Piper PA-28-140 accident near North Andover, Massachusetts, May 13, 1982
On May 13, 1982 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N15878, was substantially damaged in an accident near North Andover, Massachusetts (Lawrence airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was conditions the NTSB did not record.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 13, 1982 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- North Andover, Massachusetts · Lawrence
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- conditions the NTSB did not record
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N15878 · no longer on the register · serial 28-7325185
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING LANDING THE AIRCRAFT BOUNCED AND TOUCHED DOWN ON THE CENTER OF RUNWAY 05. WHEN THE NOSEWHEEL WAS LOWERED THE AIRCRAFT SWERVED TO THE RIGHT. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, MANIPULATION OF THE RUDDER PEDALS FAILED TO CHANGE THE DIRECTION OR RATE OF TURN OF THE AIRCRAFT WHICH RAN OFF THE RUNWAY INTO A DRAINAGE DITCH.
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: 24 hours in all; 23 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 3 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,030 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 16 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LWM North Andover MA
- Destination: LWM North Andover MA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 5, 5,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.