Cessna 340 accident near Norwood, Massachusetts, March 17, 1984
On March 17, 1984, a Cessna 340, registered N8482N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Norwood, Massachusetts (Norwood airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. 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
- March 17, 1984
- Place
- Norwood, Massachusetts · Norwood
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 340 · all 340s on the register
- Registration
- N8482N · no longer on the register · serial 340A1240
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED THAT DURING AN INSTRUMENT APCH, HE DESCENDED TO THE MDA WITH THE RADAR ALTIMETER SET TO 415 FT. THE PASSENGER IN THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT, WHO WAS A PLT, ADVISED THAT HE SAW THE APCH LIGHTS & 1 OR 2 SECONDS LATER, THE RADAR ALTIMETER SOUNDED. THE PLT VISUALLY ACQUIRED THE APCH & RWY END LIGHTS & CONTINUED THE APCH. HE SAID THAT EVERYTHING LOOKED NORMAL, BUT SUDDENLY HE SAW A TREE AHEAD. THE PLT TRIED TO AVOID THE TREE, BUT THE ACFT STRUCK IT & CRASH LANDED ON A MUDDY SERVICE ROAD.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,900 hours in all; 120 in this make and model; 58 in the last 90 days; 3,300 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Unknown (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 418 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 1983; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,990 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PWN Portland ME at 7:00 pm
- Destination: OWD Norwood MA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 35, 3,993 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.