Piper PA-28-181 accident near Stow, Massachusetts, May 7, 1985
On May 7, 1985 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-181, registered N82054, was substantially damaged in an accident near Stow, Massachusetts (Minute Man airport). It was an instructional 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 7, 1985 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Stow, Massachusetts · Minute Man
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N82054 · registry record · serial 28-8390033
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PIPER PA28-181N82054 LANDED HARD ON RUNWAY 3 AT MINUTE MAN AIRPORT, STOW, MASS. THE STUDENT WAS PERFORMING TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS, ON ONE LANDING, THE PILOT STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT BOUNCED AND THEN VEERED TO THE LEFT. RUDDER WAS APPLIED BUT THERE WAS NO REACTION, BEING ONLY A FEW FEET OFF THE RUNWAY THAT AIRCRAFT SLID OFF THE NOSE WHERE, SKIN DAMAGE BEHIND THE LEFT WING TIP AND BEHIND THE ENGINE COWL.
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
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 1 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A3A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 6B6 Stow MA at 10:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 3, 2,800 ft by 48 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.