Piper PA-28-161 accident near Stowe, Vermont, September 6, 1993
On September 6, 1993 at about 6:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N6911C, was destroyed in an accident near Stowe, Vermont. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION. A RELATED FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 6, 1993 · about 6:45 pm local time
- Place
- Stowe, Vermont
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N6911C · no longer on the register · serial 28-8516055
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING CLIMB OUT FROM THE AIRPORT, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TREES ABOUT 6.6 NAUTICAL MILES SOUTH OF THE AIRPORT AT AN ELEVATION OF 3400 FEET. ELEVATION OF THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT WAS 732 FEET. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED AS THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO CROSS OVER A MOUNTAIN RIDGE AT ITS LOWEST POINT. ABOUT 30 MILES SOUTH AT BARRE/MONTPELIER, VT, THE WIND WAS FROM 210 DEG AT 6 KNOTS. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHEN THE AIRPLANE CAME CLOSE TO THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN RIDGE, THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE LOST PARTIAL POWER. HE STATED THAT WHEN THE AIRPLANE CROSSED OVER THE TOP OF THE RIDGE, THE AIRPLANE'S UNDERCARRIAGE STRUCK TREE TOPS. THE AIRPLANE ROLLED RIGHT AND NOSED DOWN, COMING TO REST ON THE GROUND. A POST-IMPACT FIRE CONSUMED MUCH OF THE AIRPLANE. THERE WAS A TOTAL OF FOUR PERSONS ON BOARD, AND THE AIRPLANE'S FUEL TANKS WERE 'TOPPED OFF' BEFORE THE FLIGHT. ALSO, A LENTICULAR CLOUD WAS REPORTED OVER THE AREA. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND THAT WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN THE REPORTED POWER LOSS.
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
- Flight time: 150 hours in all; 35 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 75 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,717 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 30, 1993; 74 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,447 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Prontoaire, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: MVL Morrisville OH at 6:45 pm
- Destination: CXR Danbury CT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from MPV, 30 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.