Cessna 170B accident near Goldsboro, Maryland, May 1, 1988
On May 1, 1988 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Cessna 170B, registered N8271A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Goldsboro, Maryland (John Brown airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 1, 1988 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Goldsboro, Maryland · John Brown · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 170B · all 170Bs on the register
- Registration
- N8271A · registry record · serial 25123
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT SAID HE UNSUCCESSFULLY TRIED TO CLIMB IN GROUND-EFFECT AFTER THE ACFT LIFTED OFF BEFORE ADEQUATE FLYING SPEED WAS OBTAINED. THE ACFT DRIFTED RIGHT OF THE RWY AND TOUCHED DOWN IN A PLOWED FIELD WHERE IT NOSED OVER.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 319 hours in all; 11 in this make and model; 36 in the last 90 days; 301 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,750 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 4, 1988
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: Laurel DE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 4, 2,400 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 5,500 ft; scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from SBY
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.