Beech A65 accident near Friendly, Maryland, October 15, 1989
On October 15, 1989 at about 3:15 pm local time, a Beech A65, registered N186M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Friendly, Maryland (Potomac Airfield). It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF HIS FUEL SUPPLY, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL STARVATION AND LOSS OF POWER IN THE LEFT ENGINE. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE AIRCRAFT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 15, 1989 · about 3:15 pm local time
- Place
- Friendly, Maryland · Potomac Airfield
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A65 · all A65s on the register
- Registration
- N186M · registry record · serial LC-140
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 7,400 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 2,333 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 19, 1987
- Maximum gross weight: 7,700 lb
- Seats: 9
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IGSO-480-A1B6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FAY Fayetteville NC at 2:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 2,480 ft by 36 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:52 pm from DCA
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number BFO90LA001.