Piper PA-28-161 accident near Newburyport, Massachusetts, January 10, 2025
On January 10, 2025 at about 9:50 pm local time, a 1985 Piper PA-28-161, registered N9184Y, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Newburyport, Massachusetts (Plum Island 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 decision to initiate a go-around, which resulted in the airplane colliding with an obstacle during approach.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 10, 2025 · about 9:50 pm local time
- Place
- Newburyport, Massachusetts · Plum Island 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, built 1985 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N9184Y · no longer on the register · serial 28-8616017
- 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 flight began normally, with the student pilot departing the airport for maneuvering practice. During the flight, the instructor initiated a simulated loss of engine power, and the student pilot selected a runway for an emergency landing based on wind conditions and location. As they approached the runway, they determined they were too high to land directly and initiated a 270-degree turn to intercept the final approach. During the approach, the student extended the flaps earlier than anticipated, which resulted in greater than expected deceleration. They then observed that an obstacle, a trailer located near the end of the runway, was higher than anticipated. As the airplane neared the obstacle, the flight instructor assumed control of the airplane and applied full power to execute a go-around; however, the airplane struck the top of the trailer, pitched downward, and subsequently impacted a fence before coming to rest. Both of the airplane’s wings were substantially damaged during the accident sequence. The flight instructor and student pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions of 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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Instructor/check pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 291 hours in all; 278 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 219 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 10, 2025
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 874 hours in all; 470 in this make and model; 97 in the last 90 days; 23 in the last 30 days; 816 as pilot in command; 226 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 8, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 23,704 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 19, 2024; 11 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,440 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 5,308 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BVY Beverly MA at 9:20 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 2,105 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.75 inHg
- Observation at 4:56 pm from KPVC, 11 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KPVC 102156Z AUTO 34012KT 10SM CLR 03/M06 A2975 RMK AO2 SLP073 T00281061
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 2 – View of left-wing root buckling
Photograph 3 – View of right wing buckling
Photograph 4 – View of the empennage bucklingThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on October 23, 2025. 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, 20 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Investigative Photos | PDF, 5 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N9184Y the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.