Amateur-built Glassair accident near Stow, Massachusetts, September 6, 2002
On September 6, 2002 at about 6:30 pm local time, a amateur-built Glassair, registered N7223R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Stow, Massachusetts (Minuteman Airfield). It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper positioning of the throttle during engine start, which resulted in his inability to maintain control of the airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 6, 2002 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Stow, Massachusetts · Minuteman Airfield · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Glassair
- Registration
- N7223R · registry record · serial 2052
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that he set the vernier-type throttle to "a little more than 1/4-inch open," and started the airplane. He attempted to reduce power by twisting the throttle counter-clockwise, but was unable to retard the throttle to the idle position. The brakes could no longer hold the airplane, which moved forward, turned to the left, went through a fence and came to rest as it impacted a parked car. The pilot stated that he forgot about the center lock button on the throttle and did not notice that it was engaged during the engine start sequence.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 5,000 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 75 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 5,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 1, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 100 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 15, 2002
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming I0360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 6B6 Stow MA at 6:30 pm
- Destination: 6B6
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 03, 2,770 ft by 48 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observation at 5:56 pm from BED, 14 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
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 documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text 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 IAD02LA092.