Piper PA-28R-200 accident near Templeton, Massachusetts, January 29, 1984
On January 29, 1984, a Piper PA-28R-200, registered N55495, was destroyed in an accident near Templeton, Massachusetts (Gardner airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were killed. 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
- January 29, 1984
- Place
- Templeton, Massachusetts · Gardner
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-200 · all PA-28R-200s on the register
- Registration
- N55495 · registry record · serial 28-R-7335244
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES ON UNLGTD TERRAIN AT NGT AFTER MAKING A LOW PASS AT APRX 60 FT AGL WITH THE GEAR EXTENDED. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE ACFT'S CLEARANCE LIGHTS WERE NOT OPERATING UNTIL THE RWY LIGHTS WERE TURNED ON, THEN THEY OBSERVED THE ACFT'S STROBE LIGHT. THE RWY LIGHTS COULD HAVE BEEN TURNED ON BY KEYING THE RADIO MIKE ON 123.45 MHZ. THE WITNESSES HEARD THE SOUND OF THE CRASH WHICH WAS FOLLOWED BY SILENCE. DURING IMPACT IN A WOODED AREA, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH SEVERAL TREES OVER AN AREA OF ABOUT 175 FT. THE ACFT'S LIGHT & ALTERNATOR SWITCHES WERE FOUND IN THE 'OFF' POSITION; THE BATTERY SWITCH WAS ON. THE ALTERNATOR PULLEY HAD A FRACTURE SEPARATION; HOWEVER, THE MODE OF SEPARATION WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE ACFT HAD DEPARTED MANSFIELD, MASSACHUSETS FOR MANSFIELD, NEW HAMPSHIRE AT 1845 EST. THE PLT HAD PLANNED TO RETURN IN 4 HRS.
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
- Flight time: 1,600 hours in all; 8 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,073 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 10, 1983; 46 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1G (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Powell Aviation, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: 1B9 Mansfield MA at 11:45 pm
- Destination: MHT Manchester NH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 3,000 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 070° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 21°F (-6°C), dew point 1°F (-17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:55 am from ORC
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.