A modeling method for the modal analysis of cantilever plates undergoing in-plane translational acceleration is presented in this paper. Cartesian deformation variables are employed to derive the equations of motion and the resulting equations are transformed into dimensionless forms. To obtain the modal equation from the equations of motion, the in-plane equilibrium strain measures are substituted into the strain energy expression based on Von Karman strain measures. The effects of two dimensionless parameters (related to acceleration and aspect ratio) on the modal characteristics of accelerated plates are investigated through numerical studies.