Piper PA-28R-200 accident near Wareham, Massachusetts, March 30, 1996
On March 30, 1996 at about 5:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-28R-200, registered N57012, was destroyed in an accident near Wareham, Massachusetts. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Loss of engine power due to bearing insert being destroyed by excess heat. A factor in this accident is the pilot's experience level.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 30, 1996 · about 5:45 pm local time
- Place
- Wareham, Massachusetts
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-200 · all PA-28R-200s on the register
- Registration
- N57012 · no longer on the register · serial 7435073
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the initial climbout from the uncontrolled airport, the airplane lost engine power. The ATC tapes show that the airplane reached approximately 5300 feet mean sea level and had made a right 180-degree turn heading back towards the uncontrolled airport. It was at this time that the pilot came up on the air traffic controller's frequency and reported losing engine power and requested assistance to the nearest airport. The controller gave the pilot a heading to the nearest airport, so the pilot executed another right 180-degree turn. After turning to the heading the controller gave, the pilot realized that he was unable to make it to that airport. The pilot then executed a left 180-degree turn and stated that he would attempt to land on a busy interstate highway. The ground scaring and the trees that were clipped by the airplane indicate that the airplane impacted the northbound lane at approximately 60-degree angle. The airplane's momentum carried it across a gully and into the southbound lanes of the highway. The airplane impacted a southbound vehicle with its left wing, spun to a stop in the middle of the highway and burst into flames.
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
- Flight time: 106 hours in all; 6 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 72 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,671 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 6, 1995; 81 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1C (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: PYM Plymouth MA at 5:33 pm
- Destination: BID Block Island RI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 14°F (-10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:52 pm from EWB, 11 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
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.