Cessna 172H accident near Odenton, Maryland, April 3, 1989
On April 3, 1989, a Cessna 172H, registered N8027L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Odenton, Maryland (Tipton Aaf airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE INFLIGHT COLLISION WITH BIRDS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 3, 1989
- Place
- Odenton, Maryland · Tipton Aaf · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172H · all 172Hs on the register
- Registration
- N8027L · registry record · serial 17256227
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH BIRDS DURING CRUISE FLIGHT AT 1,800 FT MSL AT NIGHT. THREE OLDS QUAWS (DUCKS) WHICH AVERAGED 1 1/2 POUNDS EACH CONTACTED THE ACFT. ONE HIT THE UPPER LEADING EDGE SECTION OF THE LEFT WING. ONE CONTACTED AND REMOVED APRX 70 PERCENT OF THE WINDSHIELD PRIMARILY ON THE PILOT'S SIDE AND THE OTHER CONTACTED THE UPPER WINDSHIELD/FRAME AREA ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. A FORCED LANDING WAS SUCCESSFULLY ACCOMPLISHED AT FT. MEADE.
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: 401 hours in all; 325 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 257 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,289 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 1988; 22 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FDK Frederick MD
- Destination: SBY Salisbury MD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 3,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,000 ft; not recorded at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.