Cessna 172 accident near Oakland, Maryland, August 28, 1988
On August 28, 1988 at about 4:25 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N4156F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Oakland, Maryland (Greater Gortner airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 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
- August 28, 1988 · about 4:25 pm local time
- Place
- Oakland, Maryland · Greater Gortner · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N4156F · registry record · serial 46056
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE PILOT THE LANDING APPROACH FOR RUNWAY 22 WAS MADE OVER POWER LINES. HE STATED THAT DURING THE APPROACH THE STALL WARNING HORN ACTIVATED AND HE INCREASED POWER TO MAINTAIN 60 MPH WITH 20 DEGS OF FLAPS. ONCE ESTIMATING THAT HIS INTENDED POINT OF TOUCHDOWN COULD BE REACHED, HE REDUCED THE POWER AT WHICH POINT THE AIRPLANE 'DROPPED.' THE AIRPLANE CONTACTED THE TERRAIN IN A FLAT ATTITUDE, THE NOSE GEAR FAILED AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER COMING TO REST APRX 60 FEET BEYOND THE THRESHOLD. THE PASSENGER STATED THAT THE STALL WARNING ACTIVATED AS THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED TO TERRAIN IMPACT.
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: 157 hours in all; 16 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 97 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 1988; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1W3 Cumberland MD at 4:05 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 2,000 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 20,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:50 pm from MGW, 29 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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.