Amateur-built MARQUART MA-5 accident near New Oxford, Pennsylvania, August 6, 1985
On August 6, 1985 at about 2:30 pm local time, a amateur-built MARQUART MA-5, registered N168FJ, was destroyed in an accident near New Oxford, Pennsylvania. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 6, 1985 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- New Oxford, Pennsylvania · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built MARQUART MA-5 MARQUART M
- Registration
- N168FJ · no longer on the register · serial FJ-1982
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
BEFORE FLYING A SHORT DISTANCE TO THOMASVILLE TO REFUEL, THE PLT ADDED 3 TO 4 GAL OF AUTO FUEL TO THE ACFT. AT THOMASVILLE, THE ACFT WAS SERVICED WITH 20.1 GAL OF AVIATION FUEL. WHILE TAXIING TO TAKEOFF, THE ENG STOPPED & WAS RESTARTED TWICE. AFTER DEPARTING THOMASVILLE, THE PLT FLEW TO THE VICINITY OF A FRIEND'S FARM ABOUT 11.5 MI AWAY. WHILE MANEUVERING IN THAT AREA AT ABOUT 300 FT AGL, THE ENG SPUTTERED, STOPPED & RESTARTED SEVERAL TIMES. A WITNESS REPORTED THAT THE ACFT WAS GRADUALLY LOSING ALT & SPEED WHEN IT SUDDENLY MADE A 'NOSE DIVE INTO THE GOUND.' ABOUT 20 SEC AFTER IMPACTING, A FIRE ERUPTED. THE PLT WAS FOUND ABOUT 30 FT FROM THE WRECKAGE SUFFERING FROM INJURIES & BURNS. HE WAS HOSPITALIZED, BUT DIED 23 DAYS LATER. THE PASSENGER DIED ON IMPACT & THE ACFT WAS DEMOLISHED BY FIRE. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND DURING THE INVESTIGATION.
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; instrument: airplane
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 57 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, August 5, 1985; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-C1E (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: THV Thomasville PA at 2:20 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:30 pm from CXY
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.