Socata TB-9 accident near Marlborough, Massachusetts, January 26, 2002
On January 26, 2002 at about 9:02 pm local time, a Socata TB-9, registered N28239, was substantially damaged in an accident near Marlborough, Massachusetts (Marlboro Airport). It was a business 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 failure to achieve a proper touchdown point on the runway which resulted in an overrun. A factor was the pilot's lack of experience in short field operations.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 26, 2002 · about 9:02 pm local time
- Place
- Marlborough, Massachusetts · Marlboro Airport · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Socata TB-9 · all TB-9s on the register
- Registration
- N28239 · no longer on the register · serial 1152
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot made two approaches to a runway which terminated in go-arounds. On the third approach, the airplane touched down about halfway down the runway. The airplane overran the runway end and went into a chain link fence, located about 10 feet beyond the departure end of the runway. Skid marks were visible on the last 400 feet of the runway, and terminated where the airplane struck the fence. The runway was 1,682 feet long, with an approach over trees. The pilot reported that during training, he had stopped the airplane using less runway that was available; however, he had never landed on a runway as short as this runway. The pilot also reported a left crosswind of about 90 degrees at 7 to 10 knots. The pilot had received his private pilot certificate 48 days prior to the accident. His total flight experience was 98 hours with 96 hours in make and model, including 26 hours as pilot-in-command (PIC). He had logged 36 hours in the preceding 90 days, all in make and model, including 20 hours as PIC. The landing performance chart indicated the airplane would required 1,432 feet to clear a 50 foot obstacle, and stop on the runway.
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
- Flight time: 98 hours in all; 96 in this make and model; 36 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 26 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 4, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,069 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 21, 2001; 71 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,337 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HPN White Plains NY at 7:30 pm
- Destination: 9B1 Marlboro MA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 1,682 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 8:54 pm from ORH, 16 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.
Other NTSB records under N28239 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.