Piper PA-28-151 accident near Lawrence, Massachusetts, July 29, 1985
On July 29, 1985 at about 10:50 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-151, registered N32741, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lawrence, Massachusetts (Lawrence Muni. airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. 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
- July 29, 1985 · about 10:50 pm local time
- Place
- Lawrence, Massachusetts · Lawrence Muni.
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-151 · all PA-28-151s on the register
- Registration
- N32741 · no longer on the register · serial 287515229
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER REFUELING THE ACFT, THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO START THE ENG WITH THE THROTTLE FULL OPEN AND THE MIXTURE AT IDLE CUT OFF. THE INSTRUCTOR THOUGHT THE ENG WAS VAPOR LOCKED AND WAS GOING TO DRAIN THE GASCOLATOR WHEN HE NOTICED A FIRE IN THE CARBURETOR AIRBOX. THE INSTRUCTOR ATTEMPTED TO PUT OUT THE FIRE BY CRANKING THE ENG WITH THE FUEL OFF. A PORTABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHER WAS THEN USED BY THE INSTRUCTOR. THE FIRE DID NOT SPREAD BUT WAS NOT EXTINGUISHED DUE TO THE LOCATION. WHEN THE EXTINGUISHER WAS EXHAUSTED, THE FIRE SPREAD TO THE ACFT INTERIOR. THE NORTH ANDOVER FIRE DEPT ARRIVED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. LAWRENCE MUNICIPAL ARPT DID NOT HAVE FIRE QUIPMENT AVAILABLE.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,000 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model; 300 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,186 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 2, 1985; 86 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 7:11 pm
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.