Socata TB-20 accident near Frederick, Maryland, March 7, 2004
On March 7, 2004 at about 3:53 pm local time, a Socata TB-20, registered N163GT, was substantially damaged in an accident near Frederick, Maryland (Frederick Municipal Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Total 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
- March 7, 2004 · about 3:53 pm local time
- Place
- Frederick, Maryland · Frederick Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Socata TB-20 · all TB-20s on the register
- Registration
- N163GT · registry record · serial 2000
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the initial takeoff climb, at an altitude of 400 feet, the pilot noticed the engine power decrease to 1,500 rpm and several seconds later, the engine lost complete power. The pilot then performed a forced landing to a field, during which the airplane was substantially damaged. The engine was test run on the airframe, after the accident. It started, and ran for several seconds without any anomalies, before being shut down. No pre-impact mechanical anomalies were noted with the airframe or engine.
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: 568 hours in all; 430 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 438 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 12, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,126 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 2, 2004; 8 hours since
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FDK Fredrick MD
- Destination: FDK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 3,600 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 4:00 pm from FDK
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.