Piper PA-28-181 accident near Leominster, Massachusetts, December 27, 1986
On December 27, 1986, a Piper PA-28-181, registered N8720C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Leominster, Massachusetts (Fitchburg Muni. airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person 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
- December 27, 1986
- Place
- Leominster, Massachusetts · Fitchburg Muni.
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N8720C · no longer on the register · serial 28-7690158
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PIPER PA-28-181 DEPARTED ON A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT WITH FULL TANKS (48 GAL) ACCORDING TO THE PILOT. ENROUTE THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A POWER LOSS AT NIGHT AFTER FLYING FOR 3.9 HOURS. THE PILOT LANDED IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA AND STRUCK A HOUSE ON LANDING ROLL. THE PILOT RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES WHILE THE PASSENGER RECEIVED SERIOUS INJURIES. THE AIRCRAFT RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. AN OCCUPANT IN THE HOUSE ALSO RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE AIRCRAFT'S FUEL TANKS WERE EMPTY AND THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL LEAKAGE.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 206 hours in all; 91 in this make and model; 32 in the last 90 days; 113 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,441 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, August 22, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-326-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PHF Newport News VA at 8:15 pm
- Destination: ASH Nashua NH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 250° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.