Stearman PT-17 accident near Hampton, New Hampshire, May 1, 1987
On May 1, 1987 at about 7:35 pm local time, a Stearman PT-17, registered N3993P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hampton, New Hampshire (Hampton airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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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 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 1, 1987 · about 7:35 pm local time
- Place
- Hampton, New Hampshire · Hampton
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Stearman PT-17
- Registration
- N3993P · registry record · serial AR33
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH, THE PLT STATED THAT THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED A MODERATE CROSSWIND. AT ABT MID-FIELD, THE PLT ELECTED TO MAKE A GO-AROUND, HOWEVER, DUE TO WINDSHEAR AND/OR DOWNDRAFTS, THE ACFT WAS UNABLE TO CLIMB. THE STEARMAN COLLIDED WITH SEVERAL TALL TREES OFF THE END OF THE RWY AND CAME TO REST AT THE BASE OF ONE OF THEM.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,140 hours in all; 269 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 1,066 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 3, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 2,700 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental W670-6A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Shirley MA at 7:10 pm
- Destination: Hampton NH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 20, 2,100 ft by 180 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Other NTSB records under N3993P the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number NYC87LA137.