Cessna 172L accident near Newburyport, Massachusetts, June 7, 2003
On June 7, 2003 at about 3:39 pm local time, a Cessna 172L, registered N7149Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Newburyport, Massachusetts (Plum Island Airport). It was a personal 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 attain the proper touchdown point.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 7, 2003 · about 3:39 pm local time
- Place
- Newburyport, Massachusetts · Plum Island Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172L · all 172Ls on the register
- Registration
- N7149Q · registry record · serial 17260449
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated he was "a little hot " during the landing, and as he applied the brakes, he initially received no response from the airplane. The right brake then "took hold" and the airplane veered to the right into the grass. The airplane continued through a fence at the end of the runway. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed no mechanical anomalies. Additionally, skid marks were observed on the runway about half way down its length.
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: 330 hours in all; 215 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: March 24, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,710 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 7, 2002; 24 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3B3 Sterling MA at 2:50 pm
- Destination: 2B2 Newburyport MA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 10, 2,105 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 1,900 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 2:54 pm from LWM, 13 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.
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.