Piper PA-28-181 accident near Ludlow, Massachusetts, September 6, 2026
On September 6, 2026 at about 1:05 am local time, a 1976 Piper PA-28-181, registered N7653F, was destroyed in an accident during enroute (climb to cruise) near Ludlow, Massachusetts. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 6, 2026 · about 1:05 am local time
- Place
- Ludlow, Massachusetts · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181, built 1976 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N7653F · registry record · serial 28-7790205
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On September 5, 2026, about 2105 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-181, N7653F, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Ludlow, Massachusetts. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to preliminary ADS-B data, at 2054, the airplane departed from runway 14 at Northampton Airport (7B2), Northampton, Massachusetts, en route to Plymouth Municipal Airport (PYM), Plymouth, Massachusetts. Once clear of the runway, the airplane made a climbing left turn to a ground track of 088°. At 2056, the airplane turned right to 158° while continuing to climb to an altitude of 5,000 ft mean sea level (msl). During that time, the airplane made a series of slow left and right turns but remained relatively on course. At 2102, the airplane turned to about 180° and started to climb. Preliminary air traffic control information indicated that the controller at the Yankee Terminal Radar Approach Control contacted the pilot to inquire about the sudden turn to which the pilot responded that he was “correcting.” The airplane then began a climbing left turn to about 5,400 ft msl and a ground track of 023°. At 2103, the airplane began a right turn and spiral descent from an altitude of about 5,600 ft msl. The descent rate in the turn reached a rate of 11,520 feet per minute (fpm). As the turn tightened, the descent rate decreased to between 4,000 and 7,000 fpm and the airplane reached a maximum ground speed of 186 knots. The final ADS-B data point was recorded at 2104 at an altitude of 900 ft msl with a groundspeed of 162 knots, a vertical descent rate of 3,968 fpm and a ground track of 005°. The airplane impacted a wetland area 1,063 ft from the last recorded ADS-B data point. The wreckage path was oriented on a heading of 166° and was confined to an area 50 ft long by 30 ft wide. The airplane was severely fragmented and there was no post impact fire. The airplane wreckage was recovered and retained for further examination.
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 control in flight during enroute (climb to cruise) defining event
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11,986.8 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 8, 2026
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: 7B2 North Hampton MA
- Destination: PYM Plymouth MA
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 090° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,800 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.86 inHg
- Observation at 9:00 pm from CEF, 6 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KCEF 060055Z AUTO 09003KT 10SM BKN038 OVC100 19/16 A2986 RMK AO2 SLP114 T01870163
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ERA26FA329.