Cessna 170 accident near Ridgely, Maryland, October 8, 2013
On October 8, 2013 at about 2:30 pm local time, a 1948 Cessna 170, registered N4216V, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern downwind) near Ridgely, Maryland (Ridgely Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 8, 2013 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Ridgely, Maryland · Ridgely Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 170, built 1948 · all 170s on the register
- Registration
- N4216V · no longer on the register · serial 18572
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane had not been flown for about 8 months. Before departing to practice landings at the airport, the pilot/owner added aviation gasoline to the airplane's fuel tanks, which also contained automotive gasoline that had been added about 6 to 8 months previously. While on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern, the airplane experienced a sudden, total loss of engine power. The pilot was not able to restart the engine or land on the runway, so he performed a forced landing to a field. During the landing, the airplane struck a ditch and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The airplane had been operated for about 6 hours since its most recent documented annual inspection, which was performed about 3 years before the accident. The pilot reported that he found water in the airplane's fuel system the day before the accident but that fuel samples taken before the flight were not contaminated. Examination of the engine did not reveal evidence of any catastrophic engine malfunction; however, at the time of the examination, the engine and wings had been removed from the fuselage, which precluded an examination of the airplane's fuel system.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during approach (VFR pattern downwind) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Inspection › Scheduled/routine inspection › Owner/builder
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,660 hours in all; 44 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 2,353 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 10, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,971 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 2, 2011; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor C145 SERIES (piston); 3,223 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RJD Ridgely MD at 2:25 pm
- Destination: RJD Ridgely MD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 3,214 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.29 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from ESN, 14 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 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.
Other NTSB records under N4216V the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.