Piper PA-28-161 accident near Marlboro, Massachusetts, September 22, 2010
On September 22, 2010 at about 10:40 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N260ND, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Marlboro, Massachusetts (Marlboro Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s improper touchdown point and failure to perform a go-around in a timely manner, which resulted in a runway excursion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 22, 2010 · about 10:40 pm local time
- Place
- Marlboro, Massachusetts · Marlboro Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N260ND · registry record · serial 2842055
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, he verified the wind direction and speed by observing the windsock before attempting to land. During the first attempt, he executed a go-around due to excessive altitude. During a second attempt, the pilot initiated a forward slip and landed the airplane two-thirds down the runway. After touchdown, he applied brake pressure, but the airplane continued off the end of the runway and impacted a fence, substantially damaging the fuselage and wings. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that it was the first time he had landed at the airport and that it was the shortest runway he had ever attempted to land on. The pilot stated that the accident could have been prevented if he had performed a go-around.
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
What happened, in order
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
- Landing area overshoot during landing defining event
- Runway excursion during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action selection › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 90 hours in all; 6 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: May 1, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,737 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Plane Nonsense INC
The flight
- Departed from: OWD Norwood MA at 8:30 pm
- Destination: 9B1 Marlboro MA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 1,659 ft by 45 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observation at 10:56 pm from BED, 12 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.