Piper PA-32R-300 accident near Edgartown, Massachusetts, January 5, 1992
On January 5, 1992 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-32R-300, registered N38781, was destroyed in an accident near Edgartown, Massachusetts (Katama Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO ATTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED, WHICH RESULTED IN A STALL. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE CROSSWIND, THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR THE WIND AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALIGNMENT WITH THE RUNWAY, AND HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 5, 1992 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Edgartown, Massachusetts · Katama Airpark
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R-300 · all PA-32R-300s on the register
- Registration
- N38781 · no longer on the register · serial 32R 7780472
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT HE ROTATED THE AIRPLANE FOR TAKEOFF BETWEEN 50 AND 55 KNOTS. HE NOTICED IMMEDIATELY THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS DRIFTING TO THE RIGHT AND NOT CLIMBING VERY WELL. HE SAID HE LOOKED OUT OF THE SIDE WINDOW AND SAW THAT HE WAS GOING TO HIT SOME TREES, SO HE TURNED THE AIRPLANE LEFT AND PULLED BACK ON THE YOKE. HE STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE ROSE APPROXIMATELY 30 FEET IN ALTITUDE AND THEN STALLED. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A SHED SHEARING OFF A WING AND THEN HIT A FUEL PUMP SHERING OFF THE OTHER WING. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATIONS DETERMINED THAT THERE WERE NO ANOMALIES WITH THE AIRPLANE AND THE AIRPLANE WAS FULLY FUELED. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE WINDS WERE FROM 320 DEGREES AT 25 KNOTS AND THE GROSS WEIGHT OF THE AIRPLANE WAS 3,570 LBS.
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
- Flight time: 504 hours in all; 380 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 401 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,735 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 8, 1991; 73 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-KIG5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1B2 at 7:15 pm
- Destination: DXR Danbury CT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 2,600 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 25 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 27°F (-3°C), dew point 3°F (-16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 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.