Cessna 172N and Cessna 172R accident near Frederick, Maryland, March 10, 2005
On March 10, 2005, 2 aircraft, Cessna 172N (N711DA) and Cessna 172R (N3513F), were involved in the same accident near Frederick, Maryland (Frederick Muni airport). 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 inadequate visual lookout of the pilots in each airplane, which resulted in a ground collision.
The inadequate visual lookout of the pilots in each airplane, which resulted in a ground collision.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 10, 2005
- Place
- Frederick, Maryland · Frederick Muni · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N711DA · no longer on the register · serial 17268365
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 172R · all 172Rs on the register
- Registration
- N3513F · registry record · serial 17281090
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 172N final · quoted from the NTSB record
Two airplanes taxied on converging paths toward a taxiway intersection at a non-towered airport at night. One pilot, whose airplane was on the parallel taxiway taxiing to the active runway, observed the other airplane approaching on an intersecting taxiway. The pilot on the parallel taxiway announced he would continue his taxi over the radio. The pilot of the airplane on the converging taxiway heard the announcement, but did not see the other airplane as it taxied, and continued his taxi onto the parallel taxiway. The airplanes collided in the intersection.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 172R final · quoted from the NTSB record
Two airplanes taxied on converging paths toward a taxiway intersection at a non-towered airport at night. One pilot, whose airplane was on the parallel taxiway taxiing to the active runway, observed the other airplane approaching on an intersecting taxiway. The pilot on the parallel taxiway announced he would continue his taxi over the radio. The pilot of the airplane on the converging taxiway heard the announcement, but did not see the other airplane as it taxied, and continued his taxi onto the parallel taxiway. The airplanes collided in the intersection.
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 for the Cessna 172N from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 194 hours in all; 194 in this make and model; 53 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 88 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,161 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 2005; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FDK Frederick MD
- Destination: GAI Gaithersburg MD
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 310° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 28°F (-2°C), dew point 14°F (-10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna 172R from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,323 hours in all; 92 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 375 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 1, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,826 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 1, 2005; 7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-L2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FDK Frederick MD
- Destination: FDK Frederick MD
- Flight plan: none
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 N711DA 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.