Piper PA-34 accident near Southbridge, Massachusetts, June 24, 1987
On June 24, 1987 at about 3:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-34, registered N4348T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Southbridge, Massachusetts (Southbridge airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 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
- June 24, 1987 · about 3:15 pm local time
- Place
- Southbridge, Massachusetts · Southbridge
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-34 · all PA-34s on the register
- Registration
- N4348T · no longer on the register · serial 34-8433038
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING LANDING ROLL, A FAILURE OF A TIRE TUBE CAUSED A FLAT TIRE AND CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS LOST. WHEN THE TIRE WAS DISMANTLED, THE INNER TUBE WAS FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE AT THE JOINT SEAM. TOTAL TIME ON THE ACFT AND TIRE WAS407 HRS. THE ACFT HAD A 100 HR INSPECTION 53 HOURS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE.
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 sea; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,100 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 260 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 407 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 11, 1987; 53 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,570 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Jackman ME at 1:50 pm
- Destination: Southbridge MA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 2, 3,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 4 |
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.