Amateur-built PT-17 and Cessna 182A accident near Elkton, Maryland, October 5, 1997
On October 5, 1997 at about 3:15 pm local time, 2 aircraft, amateur-built PT-17 (N49760) and Cessna 182A (N4941D), were involved in the same accident near Elkton, Maryland (Raintree airport). No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The inadequate lookout by the pilot of the Cessna and his failure to maintain adequate clearance between his airplane and the active runway. A factor in the accident was the lack of taxiway hold signs or lines.
The inadequate lookout by the pilot of the Cessna and his failure to maintain adequate clearance between his airplane and the active runway. A factor in the accident was the lack of taxiway hold signs or lines.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 5, 1997 · about 3:15 pm local time
- Place
- Elkton, Maryland · Raintree · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Amateur-built PT-17
- Registration
- N49760 · registry record · serial 75-1581
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 182A · all 182As on the register
- Registration
- N4941D · no longer on the register · serial 51041
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the amateur-built PT-17 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of a tail-wheeled Stearman performed a run-up at the approach end of the runway in the run-up area, and waited for an airplane to land. The pilot then taxied onto runway 31 and began his takeoff roll. A review of a videotape of the accident revealed that the Stearman was right of the runway center line, but its main landing wheels remained on the runway. The videotape also revealed that a Cessna was positioned with its engine/propeller in the vicinity of the runway edge, facing about 160 to 170 degree with its right wing extended over the runway. After the Stearman's tail lifted during the takeoff roll, its right wings struck the nose of the Cessna, followed by the nose of the Stearman striking the right wing of the Cessna. There were no taxiway or runway hold signs, or hold lines on the turf taxiway.
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 182A final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of a tail-wheeled Stearman performed a run-up at the approach end of the runway in the run-up area, and waited for an airplane to land. The pilot then taxied onto runway 31 and began his takeoff roll. A review of a videotape of the accident revealed that the Stearman was right of the runway center line, but its main landing wheels remained on the runway. The videotape also revealed that a Cessna was positioned with its engine/propeller in the vicinity of the runway edge, facing about 160 to 170 degree with its right wing extended over the runway. After the Stearman's tail lifted during the takeoff roll, its right wings struck the nose of the Cessna, followed by the nose of the Stearman striking the right wing of the Cessna. There were no taxiway or runway hold signs, or hold lines on the turf taxiway.
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 amateur-built PT-17 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 12,495 hours in all; 35 in this make and model; 138 in the last 90 days; 60 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 11, 1997
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental W-670-5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 58M at 3:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 2,635 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 5 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna 182A from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 410 hours in all; 19 in this make and model; 80 in the last 90 days; 58 in the last 30 days; 365 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,741 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 10, 1997; 117 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 58M
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 2,635 ft by 80 ft
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.