- Date
- May 17, 1987, 19:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place
- Elkton, MD
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N714FZCessna 150M
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 24, 1989
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19870517013459A
- Case key
- 11285
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The acft was flying at low altitude over an area of open fields when according to witnesses the acft abruptly pitched down and descended to the ground. Some witnesses stated they heard the engine operating throughout the descent while ohter witnesses reported no engine sounds. The plt stated before the flight that he was going to do some practice flying. The accident occurred at a practice area. Examination of the acft did not disclose evidence of malfunction.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N714FZ
- Reported as
- Cessna 150M
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15079153
- Airframe hours
- 3,070
- Engine
- Continental O-200-A48B, 110 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- John R. Hite
- Registered owner
- Joseph R Hite
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 9, 1986 · 98 hours before
- Departed
- 58M · Elkton, MD
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 39
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Right
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 3,842 total · 232 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 220° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- ILG, 9 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.