The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Accidents · NTSB DEN07CA103 · Final report

Piper PA-30 accident near Highgate, Vermont, June 22, 2007

On June 22, 2007 at about 10:48 pm local time, a Piper PA-30, registered N8078Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Highgate, Vermont. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).

The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged

The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed on approach resulting in the stall and subsequent impact with terrain.

Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
June 22, 2007 · about 10:48 pm local time
Place
Highgate, Vermont · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Piper PA-30 · all PA-30s on the register
Registration
N8078Y · no longer on the register · serial 30-1192
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

The pilot said he was on final approach for landing when he allowed the airplane to get slow. The airplane stalled less than 10 feet above the runway. The airplane dropped, impacted on the runway, and went off the left side. The right wing caught in the turf, the landing gear broke off, the airplane "cartwheeled," and then slid about 75 feet before coming to a stop.

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: 3,525 hours in all; 900 in this make and model
  • Medical certificate: Class 2
  • Injury: no injuries

The aircraft

  • Landing gear: retractable
  • Engine: Lycoming IO-320 (piston); 0 hours total

The flight

  • Departed from: 4BO South Albany NY at 8:59 am
  • Destination: FSO Highgate VT
  • Flight plan: none

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew1
Passengers3

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.