Piper PA-28-180 accident near Colebrook, New Hampshire, February 22, 1987
On February 22, 1987 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N3967R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Colebrook, New Hampshire (Colebrook airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 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
- February 22, 1987 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Colebrook, New Hampshire · Colebrook
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N3967R · no longer on the register · serial 287105073
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT RPRTD THAT AFTER ARRIVING, THE WIND SHIFTED TO THE NE, BUT HE ELECTED TO LAND ON RWY 21 'BECAUSE OF A FROST HEAVE.' SUBSEQUENTLY, HE LANDED LONG TO AVOID THE FROST HEAVE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO STOP ON THE ICY RWY. THE ACFT CONTD OFF THE DEPARTURE END & RAN INTO A SNOWBANK & DITCH. IN RETROSPECT, THE PLT BELIEVED HE SHOULD HAVE MADE A GO-AROUND & LANDED INTO THE WIND.
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
- Flight time: 164 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 115 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,883 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,175 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Osprey Flying Club
The flight
- Departed from: BML Berlin NH at 4:30 pm
- Destination: NHO2
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 2,300 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 10 knots
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 19°F (-7°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.