Thurston TEAL TSC-1A accident near Methuen, Massachusetts, May 30, 1982
On May 30, 1982 at about 8:15 pm local time, a Thurston TEAL TSC-1A, registered N2002T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Methuen, Massachusetts (Merrimac River airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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 30, 1982 · about 8:15 pm local time
- Place
- Methuen, Massachusetts · Merrimac River
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Thurston TEAL TSC-1A TEAL TSC-1
- Registration
- N2002T · registry record · serial 2
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS PRACTICING TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS ON A RIVER IN AN AMPHIBIAN AIRCRAFT. AFTER A LANDING, THE PILOT COMMENCEDA HIGH SPEED TAXI TAKEOFF. WHEN VIOLENT SHAKING STARTED THE PILOT REDUCED POWER, PULLED BACK THE STICK, AND LANDED. THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER. THE LANDING WHEELS WERE FOUND IN THE DOWN POSITION.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 2,350 hours in all; 6 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 2,156 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 676 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Tewksbury MA at 2:00 pm
- Destination: Tewksbury MA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 140°F (60°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
Other NTSB records under N2002T 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.