Piper PA-28-181 accident near Newport, New Hampshire, August 2, 1987
On August 2, 1987 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-181, registered N25HG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Newport, New Hampshire (Parlin Field). 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
- August 2, 1987 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Newport, New Hampshire · Parlin Field
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N25HG · registry record · serial 28-7890206
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ON TAKEOFF THE AIRCRAFT FAILED TO GAIN SUFFICIENT AIRSPEED TO MAINTAIN FLIGHT. THE TAKEOFF WAS ABORTED AFTER REACHING 200 FEET ALTITUDE AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS LANDED ON THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH A SANDBANK. THE PILOT HAD TROUBLE STARTING THE ENGINE AND HAD EXCESSIVE MAG DROP DURING THE RUN-UP. THIS WAS CORRECTED BY LEANING THE MIXTURE. DURING THE TAKEOFF THE ENGINE DEVELOPED LESS RPM THAN DESIRED SO THE PILOT DECIDEDTO LAND. HE LATER SAID HE SHOULD HAVE ABORTED THE TAKEOFF EARLIER. NO MALFUNCTIONS OR MECHANICAL FAILURES COULD BE FOUND. THE AIRCRAFT WAS OPERATED AT HIGH GROSS WEIGHT. THE PILOT WAS NOT ACCUSTOMED TO OPERATIONS WITH HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE.
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: 103 hours in all; 15 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 46 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,417 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 7, 1987
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 2B3 at 6:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 3,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.