Porterfield CP-65 accident near Jaffrey, New Hampshire, June 24, 2005
On June 24, 2005 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Porterfield CP-65, registered N37709, was substantially damaged in an accident near Jaffrey, New Hampshire (Jaffrey Muni-Silver Ranch airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The student pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions and his failure to maintain directional control. A factor in the accident was the drop off/descending embankment at the runway's edge.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 24, 2005 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Jaffrey, New Hampshire · Jaffrey Muni-Silver Ranch · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Porterfield CP-65 · all CP-65s on the register
- Registration
- N37709 · registry record · serial 938
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot entered the downwind leg of the traffic pattern, and after viewing the windsock, decided to land on the opposite runway. The airplane landed with a reported crosswind of 11 knots gusting to 16 knots. After lowering the tailwheel to the runway, the airplane encountered a crosswind gust that "spun the airplane around like a toy." The student straightened the airplane as it departed the left edge of the runway, where the grade dropped immediately down an embankment. The airplane struck terrain at the bottom of the embankment, nosed over, and came to rest inverted. The student pilot stated that there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane.
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: student
- Flight time: 102 hours in all; 63 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A65 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FIT Fitchburg MA
- Destination: AFN Jaffrey NH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 11 knots, gusting 16
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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 IAD05CA086.