Piper PA-28R-201T accident near Brewer, Maine, March 5, 1992
On March 5, 1992 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28R-201T, registered N3768M, was destroyed in an accident near Brewer, Maine (Brewer 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 DECISION TO LAND ON AN ICY RUNWAY AND THEN ATTEMPT TO TAKE OFF. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S DECISION TO COMPLETELY RAISE THE FLAPS AFTER THE BALKED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 5, 1992 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Brewer, Maine · Brewer
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-201T PA-28R-201 · all PA-28R-201Ts on the register
- Registration
- N3768M · no longer on the register · serial 28R-7803192
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS ON A PERSONAL CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT. AS HE NEARED HIS DESTINATION, HE WAS INSTRUCTED BY APPROACH CONTROL TO DELAY HIS VFR APPROACH DUE TO LANDING TRAFFIC AHEAD OF HIM. AS HE CIRCLED, HE SPOTTED A SMALL GRASS LANDING FIELD. HE REQUESTED AND RECEIVED CLEARANCE TO LAND THERE INSTEAD. AS HE TOUCHED DOWN, HE REALIZED THERE WERE ICE PATCHES ON THE RUNWAY AND ELECTED TO GO AROUND. THE PILOT RAISED THE FLAPS TO THE FULL UP POSITION AND APPLIED TAKE-OFF POWER. SHORTLY PAST THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY, THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A TREE AND FELL TO THE GROUND. AFTER SLIDING ALONG THE GROUND, THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A GARAGE AND PARKED CAR.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,700 hours in all; 1,500 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 2,600 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,755 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 2, 1991; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-360F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 7B2 Northampton MA at 3:30 pm
- Destination: BGR Bangor ME
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 1, 1,700 ft by 25 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast; scat
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:15 pm from BGR, 4 miles away
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.