Piper PA-28-161 accident near N. Andover, Massachusetts, August 4, 1987
On August 4, 1987 at about 1:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N8363H, was substantially damaged in an accident near N. Andover, Massachusetts (Lawrence Mem. airport). It was an instructional 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).
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 4, 1987 · about 1:45 pm local time
- Place
- N. Andover, Massachusetts · Lawrence Mem.
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N8363H · registry record · serial 28-8116188
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT LOST POWER SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF. THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT TOOK CONTROL AND DUE TO THE LACK OF ALTITUDE DECIDED TO LAND THE ACFT STRAIGHT AHEAD. THE AIRCRAFT WAS LANDED ON THE GRASS BESIDE THE RUNWAY. TEARDOWN OF THE ENGINE REVEALED A STUCK VALVE. THE VALVE HAD BEEN STRUCK BY THE PISTON AND HAD BROKEN INTO SEVERAL PIECES WHICH ENTERED THE EXHAUST SYSTEM.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine
- Flight time: 805 hours in all; 99 in this make and model; 135 in the last 90 days; 590 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,510 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 14, 1986; 90 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LWM Lawrence MA at 1:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 3,900 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 5 knots
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.