Piper PA-38-112 accident near Randolph, New Hampshire, January 17, 1987
On January 17, 1987 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N2430G, was destroyed in an accident near Randolph, New Hampshire. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. 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
- January 17, 1987 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Randolph, New Hampshire
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N2430G · no longer on the register · serial 38-79A0525
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
STUDENT PILOT ON A CROSS COUNTRY INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT BECAME DISORIENTED, DECIDED TO RETURN TO DEPARTURE AIRPORT. HOWEVER SEEING THAT HE WAS RUNNING LOW ON FUEL LOOKED FOR AN AIRPORT TO LAND TO REFUEL AND FIND OUT HIS LOCATION. HE DECIDED TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING ON A ROAD AND DURING DECENT COLLIDED WITH A GUY WIRE. DURING ROLL OUT, THE LEFT WING STRUCK A TELEPHONE POLE AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED.
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
- Flight time: 173 hours in all; 131 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 30 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,488 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 24, 1986; 96 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3B2 Marshfield MA at 1:30 pm
- Destination: ALB Albany NY
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- 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.