Piper PA-28-140 accident near North Andover, Massachusetts, May 6, 1984
On May 6, 1984 at about 10:27 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N5385F, was destroyed in an accident near North Andover, Massachusetts (Lawrence Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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 6, 1984 · about 10:27 pm local time
- Place
- North Andover, Massachusetts · Lawrence Muni
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N5385F · no longer on the register · serial 28-7725049
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED TO POLICE THAT HE WAS POSITIONING THE PROP FOR A PHOTO WHEN THE ENGINE STARTED AND THE AIRPLANE TRAVELED 2500 FT UNATTENDED ACROSS THE ARPT BEFORE IT BECAME AIRBORNE AND STRUCK THE REAR OF A COMMERCIAL BLDG THAT HOUSED THREE BUSINESSES, INCLUDING AN AUTO BODY SHOP. THREE OCCUPANTS OF THE BLDG EVACUATED WITHOUT INJURY. THE AIRPLANE AND BLDG WERE DESTROYED BY IMPACT, EXPLOSION, AND FIRE THAT WAS FED BY ACFT FUEL AND FLAMMABLES IN THE BLDG. EXAMINATION OF THE ACFT RVLD THAT THE THROTTLE AND MIXTURE CNTRLS WERE IN THE OPEN POSITION; HOWEVER, EXTENSIVE FIRE DAMAGE PRECLUDED AN EXAM OF THE IGNITION SWITCH, PARKING BRAKE, OR BATTERY. THE CHOCKS AND TIE DOWN ROPES HAD BEEN REMOVED FROM THE ACFT. THE STUDENT PLT/OWNER OF N5385F REFUSED TO MAKE A STATEMENT TO NTSB PERSONNEL.
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
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E30 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: LWM North Andover MA at 10:27 pm
- Destination: Unknown
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 3,900 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 35 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:27 pm from LWM
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.