Cessna 172N accident near Princess Anne, Maryland, July 4, 1994
On July 4, 1994 at about 7:58 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N4828G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Princess Anne, Maryland (Finch [Private] airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO DO A GO-AROUND AND HER DELAY IN THE INITIATING OF AN ABORTED LANDING, WHICH RESULTED IN HER FAILURE TO OUTCLIMB TREES DURING THE ABORTED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 4, 1994 · about 7:58 pm local time
- Place
- Princess Anne, Maryland · Finch [Private] · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N4828G · no longer on the register · serial 17273376
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT SHE THOUGHT THE GRASS STRIP WAS WET FROM A 'PREVIOUS RAIN,' AND UPON TOUCHDOWN THE AIRPLANE 'BOUNCED SLIGHTLY ONCE.' SHE FURTHER STATED THAT THE BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK PROPERLY, AND THE PLANE WAS NOT STOPPING. THE PILOT ABORTED THE LANDING, AND THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE TOP OF A TREE. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT TWO WITNESSES SAW THE AIRPLANE INITIALLY LAND APPROXIMATELY HALFWAY DOWN THE 2500 FEET RUNWAY. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE GRASS WAS DRY AND THE RUNWAY WAS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. IT WAS ALSO REVEALED THAT THE PILOT DID NOT RAISE THE FLAPS AFTER ABORTING THE LANDING.
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: 188 hours in all; 17 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 102 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,220 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PTB Petersburg VA at 7:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 2,500 ft by 25 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; not recorded at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.
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.