Piper PA-31-350 accident near Brewer, Maine, March 19, 1992
On March 19, 1992 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-31-350, registered N62951, was substantially damaged in an accident near Brewer, Maine (St. Marys County airport). It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO CORRECT AN EXCESSIVE DESCENT RATE DURING FLARE. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOTS IMPROPER COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 19, 1992 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Brewer, Maine · St. Marys County
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-31-350 · all PA-31-350s on the register
- Registration
- N62951 · no longer on the register · serial 31-7752001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT HAD JUST COMPLETED A VOR APPROACH TO RUNWAY 11 AND DESCENDED BELOW THE BASE OF THE CLOUDS. THE WIND SOCK INDICATED THERE WAS A LEFT TO RIGHT CROSS WIND NEAR THE RUNWAY. AS THE PILOT FLARED FOR TOUCHDOWN, HE ENCOUNTERED A GUST OF WIND. HE CORRECTED AND THEN EXPERIENCED A SECOND GUST. WINDS AT AN AIRFIELD 13 MILES TO THE SOUTHEAST WERE REPORTED AS NORTH AT 3 KNOTS. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE RUNWAY WITH ENOUGH FORCE TO BREAK THE ENGINE MOUNTS ON THE LEFT ENGINE. THE ENGINE DROPPED TO THE RUNWAY BUT REMAINED ATTACHED BY CABLES AND WIRES. THE PILOT SLOWED THE AIRPLANE AND CLEARED THE RUNWAY AT THE NEAREST INTERSECTION. HE EXITED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,615 hours in all; 49 in the last 90 days; 23 in the last 30 days; 3,857 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 7, 1992; 55 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,000 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TSO-540-J2BD (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: North Central Airways, INC
The flight
- Departed from: SF2 Lincoln RI at 6:00 pm
- Destination: 2W6 Leonardtown MD
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 11, 3,249 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,000 ft
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:55 pm from PXT, 13 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.