Cessna 195 accident near California, Maryland, April 6, 1991
On April 6, 1991 at about 12:50 pm local time, a Cessna 195, registered N1504D, was destroyed in an accident near California, Maryland (St. Mary'S County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE LOSS OF POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 6, 1991 · about 12:50 pm local time
- Place
- California, Maryland · St. Mary'S County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 195 · all 195s on the register
- Registration
- N1504D · no longer on the register · serial 7726
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WITNESSES REPORTED THE ENGINE WAS OPERATING ERRATICALLY AS THE PILOT WAS TAXIING FOR TAKEOFF. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO OPERATE ERRATICALLY DURING THE TAKEOFF RUN AND LIFT OFF OCCURRED ABOUT HALFWAY DOWN THE RUNWAY. ACCORDING TO WITNESSES THE AIRPLANE CLIMBED SLOWLY AND STRUCK TREES ABOUT 2000 FEET BEYOND THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED AND IMPACTED THE GROUND. THE AIRPLANE WAS BURNED FROM IMPACT RELATED FIRE. THE EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE DID NOT DISCLOSE EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION.
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: 1,806 hours in all; 27 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 1,726 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 21, 1990
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Jacobs R755A-2 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 2W6 at 1:50 pm
- Destination: LAL Lakeland FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 3,250 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Wind: from 340° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:11 pm from PXT, 9 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.