Cessna 182 accident near Pepperell, Massachusetts, March 2, 1986
On March 2, 1986 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Cessna 182, registered N8776T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pepperell, Massachusetts (Sports Center airport). It was an other work-use flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). No one was hurt; 2 people were 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
- March 2, 1986 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Pepperell, Massachusetts · Sports Center
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182 · all 182s on the register
- Registration
- N8776T · no longer on the register · serial 52676
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER DESCENDING TO TRAFFIC PATTERN ALTITUDE. THE THROTTLE WAS ADVANCED WITH NO RESPONSE FROM THE ENGINE. ON FLARE TO LANDING, PILOT EXPERIENCED SUN GLARE, DRIFTED TO THE RIGHT, AND TOUCHED DOWN IN A SNOW BANK. NOSE GEAR DUG IN AND AIRCRAFT FLIPPED OVER ONTO ITS BACK. THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED BUT THE CERTIFIED PILOT AND PASSENGER WERE UNINJURED.
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; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,359 hours in all; 1,040 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 3,091 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,000 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 1, 1986; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 2,700 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded at 6,000 ft; not recorded at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.