Piper PA-28-180 accident near Denton, Maryland, July 18, 2005
On July 18, 2005 at about 10:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N4797L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Denton, Maryland. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A 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
- July 18, 2005 · about 10:45 pm local time
- Place
- Denton, Maryland · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N4797L · no longer on the register · serial 28-4135
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
About 30 minutes after departure, and while cruising at 1,000 msl, the engine began to gradually lose power. Over the next 3 minutes, the pilot attempted to restore engine power, but was unsuccessful. He subsequently performed a forced landing to a farm field. During the landing, the airplane's landing gear sunk into the soft ground, and the right wing contacted the ground. The pilot stated that prior to departure, the airplane's fuel tanks contained a combination of aviation and automotive fuel. The airplane did not have a supplemental type certificate for the use of automotive fuel. The airplane was owned, operated, and maintained by the pilot, who did not possess a mechanic certificate. External examination of the airplane did not reveal mechanical malfunctions or failures of the engine, and further examination of the airplane or the engine was not possible.
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: 2,840 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,400 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 2005
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Goldsboro MD at 10:15 pm
- Destination: NONE
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 10:45 pm from ESN
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.