Piper PA 28R-201 accident near Northampton, Massachusetts, August 6, 2016
On August 6, 2016 at about 3:45 pm local time, a 1978 Piper PA 28R-201, registered N3783M, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Northampton, Massachusetts (Northampton Airport). It was an instructional 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 failure of the alternate air valve plate hinge pin, which caused the alternate air valve plate to lodge in the fuel servo assembly, which resulted in a restriction of air to the fuel servo assembly, a loss of engine power, and an off-airport emergency landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 6, 2016 · about 3:45 pm local time
- Place
- Northampton, Massachusetts · Northampton Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 28R-201 201, built 1978 · all PA 28R-201s on the register
- Registration
- N3783M · no longer on the register · serial 28R-7837137
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor indicated that, during a simulated soft-field takeoff on an instructional flight, the airplane's climb performance noticeably deteriorated. As the airplane reached about 150 ft above ground level, the engine started to lose power. The flight instructor chose to make an emergency off-airport landing, during which the right wing and firewall were substantially damaged. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the alternate air valve plate was lodged in the air intake and blocked the fuel servo. Further examination revealed that the hinge pin that held the alternate air valve plate was worn completely through, which caused the plate assembly to separate from its mounting location and lodge in the fuel servo. This obstruction likely restricted the intake air to the engine and thus led to the loss of engine power on takeoff. Examination of the alternate air valve plate revealed that it had been altered from its original design, although there were no maintenance records documenting the alteration. The investigation could not determine whether this alteration contributed to the failure of the alternate air valve plate's mounting mechanism.
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
- Loss of engine power (partial) during initial climb defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Power plant › Air intake › Failure
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,399 hours in all; 268 in this make and model; 6,288 as pilot in command; 4,240 on instruments
- Last flight review: December 31, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 240 hours in all; 10 in this make and model
- Last flight review: July 15, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,855 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 8, 2016; 53 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,749 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1C6 (piston); 964 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 7B2 Northampton MA at 3:43 pm
- Destination: 7B2 Northampton MA
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.72 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from BAF, 9 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 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.