Amateur-built 601P accident near Augusta, Maine, October 29, 1982
On October 29, 1982 at about 1:57 pm local time, a amateur-built 601P, registered N90439, was destroyed in an accident near Augusta, Maine (Augusta State airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- October 29, 1982 · about 1:57 pm local time
- Place
- Augusta, Maine · Augusta State
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built 601P
- Registration
- N90439 · no longer on the register · serial 61P-0251-045
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PILOT LOST CONTROL OF HIS AIRCRAFT DURING LOW ALTITUDE MANEUVERS TO ALIGN THE AIRCRAFT FOR LANDING. THE LOW CEILING AND RISING TERRAIN AROUND THE AIRPORT INFLUENCED THE PILOTS DECISIONS TO MAKE TIGHT TURNS AT LOW ALTITUDE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS STALLED AND ROLLED INVERTED ONTO THE RUNWAY DURING A TURN.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,659 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,715 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 72 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-S1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Teterboro NJ at 8:18 am
- Destination: Augusta ME
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 35, 5,149 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 108°F (42°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 am from AUG
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.