Forney F-1 accident near Fitchburg, Massachusetts, May 14, 1983
On May 14, 1983 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Forney F-1, registered N7528C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fitchburg, Massachusetts (Fitchburg airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. 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 14, 1983 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Fitchburg, Massachusetts · Fitchburg
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Forney F-1 · all F-1s on the register
- Registration
- N7528C · no longer on the register · serial 5643
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT SETTLED INTO TREES DURING A FORCED LANDING ON TAKEOFF AFTER A POWER LOSS AT 800 FEET AGL. THE FLIGHT HAD STARTED AT STOW, MA. AND PROCEEDED AT FITCHBURG AFTER PRACTICING STALLS AND TURNS FOR A PILOT REVIEW. AFTER LANDING AT FITCHBURG AIRPORT THE FLIGHT TAXIED INTO TAKEOFF POSITON WITHOUT STOPPING FOR ANY CHECKS AND TOOK OFF. AT ABOUT 800 FEET THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND WHEN A SUITABLE LANDING SITE WAS NOT FOUND A STALL INTO TREES WAS ACCOMPLISHED. THE 2 PILOTS WERE UNINJURED. AN AIR FILTER ELEMENT HAD BLOCKED THE CARBURETOR THROAT.
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: 304 hours in all; 63 in this make and model; 137 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,400 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 1983; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental 90-12F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FIT Fitchburg MA at 5:15 pm
- Destination: 6B6 Stow MA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 4,500 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.