Piper PA28 accident near Hanson, Massachusetts, December 23, 2019
On December 23, 2019 at about 7:00 pm local time, a 1970 Piper PA28, registered N5792U, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR go-around) near Hanson, Massachusetts (Cranland 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 flight instructor's delayed remedial action, which resulted in his decision to perform an off field landing and the airplane's 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
- December 23, 2019 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Hanson, Massachusetts · Cranland · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA28 140, built 1970 · all PA28s on the register
- Registration
- N5792U · no longer on the register · serial 28-26618
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor reported that the student pilot was landing on the 1,760-ft-long runway and flared above the numbers. The airplane floated halfway down the runway and he instructed the student pilot to initiate a go around. With about 1/4 of the runway remaining, the flight instructor was concerned the airplane would not have sufficient airspeed to climb above the tree line. He took control of the airplane and landed in the grass field past the end of the runway. The airplane came to a stop in the mud, the nose gear separated, and the airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the firewall. The student pilot reported that, the airplane was "climbing out normally," when "without any warning" the flight instructor took the flight controls. He further reported that, the instructor "completely lost control and was very excited." Airport surveillance video showed the airplane begin to climb out, then abruptly descend towards the runway. The flight instructor further reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Landing area overshoot during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Collision during takeoff/land during approach (VFR go-around) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Instructor/check pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Instructor/check pilot
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 366.7 hours in all; 46.7 in this make and model; 64.6 in the last 90 days; 20.2 in the last 30 days; 299.7 as pilot in command; 91.5 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 8, 2019
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 270 hours in all; 270 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1B9 Mansfield MA at 6:00 pm
- Destination: 28M Hanson MA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 1,760 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 10 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observation at 6:52 pm from KPYM, 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
4 documents, released by the NTSB on October 9, 2020. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilots Statements | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Video File - Accident Landing | video | View Download |
| 4 | Photo Array | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.