Piper PA-28-180 and Piper PA-38-112 mid-air collision near Pittsfield, Massachusetts, July 24, 1993
On July 24, 1993 at about 1:53 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Piper PA-28-180 (N9044J) and Piper PA-38-112 (N91357), were involved in a mid-air collision near Pittsfield, Massachusetts (Pittsfield Municipal). 1 person had minor injuries; 4 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT OF THE PA-28, N9044J, TO PROPERLY TUNE HIS RADIOS, AND HIS FAILURE TO SEE AND AVOID THE PA-38, N91357.
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT OF THE PA-28, N9044J, TO PROPERLY TUNE HIS RADIOS, AND HIS FAILURE TO SEE AND AVOID THE PA-38, N91357.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 24, 1993 · about 1:53 pm local time
- Place
- Pittsfield, Massachusetts · Pittsfield Municipal
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 4 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N9044J · registry record · serial 28-3075
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N91357 · registry record · serial 38-82A0012
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Piper PA-28-180 final · quoted from the NTSB record
BOTH THE PA-28, N9044J, AND THE PA-38, N91357, WERE ON FINAL APPROACH TO RWY 26 WHEN THEY COLLIDED ABOUT 1/4 MI FROM THE RUNWAY THRESHOLD, AND ABOUT 200 FT ABOVE THE GROUND. BOTH PILOTS STATED THAT THEY REPORTED THEIR POSITION ON UNICOM. HOWEVER, SEVERAL WITNESSES WHO WERE MONITORING THE RADIO STATED THEY ONLY HEARD THE PILOT OF THE PA-38 REPORT HER POSITION. THE RADIOS OF THE PA-28, N9044J, WERE FOUND TUNED TO THE UNICOM FREQUENCY OF THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Piper PA-38-112 final · quoted from the NTSB record
BOTH THE PA-28, N9044J, AND THE PA-38, N91357, WERE ON FINAL APPROACH TO RWY 26 WHEN THEY COLLIDED ABOUT 1/4 MI FROM THE RUNWAY THRESHOLD, AND ABOUT 200 FT ABOVE THE GROUND. BOTH PILOTS STATED THAT THEY REPORTED THEIR POSITION ON UNICOM. HOWEVER, SEVERAL WITNESSES WHO WERE MONITORING THE RADIO STATED THEY ONLY HEARD THE PILOT OF THE PA-38 REPORT HER POSITION. THE RADIOS OF THE PA-28, N9044J, WERE FOUND TUNED TO THE UNICOM FREQUENCY OF THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT.
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 for the Piper PA-28-180 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 526 hours in all; 53 in this make and model; 396 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 2,175 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A3A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Tamarack Flying Club INC.
The flight
- Departed from: GBR Gr Barrington MA at 1:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 9,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:50 pm from ALB, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 2 |
The factual record for the Piper PA-38-112 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 198 hours in all; 105 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 10 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: East Coast Aero Club INC.
The flight
- Departed from: BED Bedford MA at 12:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number BFO93LA136.