Cessna 185 accident near Ridgely, Maryland, October 27, 1990
On October 27, 1990 at about 5:28 pm local time, a Cessna 185, registered N1555F, was destroyed in an accident near Ridgely, Maryland (Ridgely Pelicans airport). It was a ferry 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 LOSS OF ENGINE 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
- October 27, 1990 · about 5:28 pm local time
- Place
- Ridgely, Maryland · Ridgely Pelicans · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 185 · all 185s on the register
- Registration
- N1555F · no longer on the register · serial 1850925
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT WAS ON THE FIRST FLIGHT AFTER ABOUT 2 YRS OF INACTIVITY. A FERRY PERMIT WAS ISSUED FOR THE FLIGHT. ACCORDING TO THE PLT, A PRETAKEOFF ENGINE RUNUP WAS PERFORMED AND THE TAKEOFF WAS NORMAL UNTIL THE AIRCRAFT CLIMBED ABOUT 600 FT AGL. THE PLT REPORTED HE HEARD A POP AND MECHANICAL NOISE. THE ENGINE LOST POWER, DECREASING TO ABOUT 50% POWER. THE PLT STATED HE WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE, SO HE STAYED IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN TO RETURN FOR LANDING. THE PLT SAID THE ENGINE LOST POWER COMPLETELY AFTER HE TURNED ONTO BASE LEG. AS HE ATTEMPTED TO LAND IN AN OPEN FIELD, THE LANDING GEAR STRUCK A POWER LINE. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT 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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,620 hours in all; 144 in this make and model; 78 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 1,483 as pilot in command; 49 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-470 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: W28 at 5:25 pm
- Destination: W28 Friendly MD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from BWI, 38 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.