Piper PA-28 accident near Mendon, Massachusetts, January 23, 1988
On January 23, 1988 at about 1:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28, registered N663FL, was destroyed in an accident near Mendon, Massachusetts. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
OFF AIRPORT LANDING DUE TO ENGINE POWER LOSS FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 23, 1988 · about 1:30 pm local time
- Place
- Mendon, Massachusetts
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28 · all PA-28s on the register
- Registration
- N663FL · no longer on the register · serial 28-1725583
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A SHORT FIELD TAKEOFF WAS BEING MADE DUE TO THE NEAR GROSS WEIGHT OF THE ACFT. SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF AT AN ALT OF ABOUT 1,100 FT, THE ACFT EXPERIENCED A VIBRATION AND THE ENG BEGAN TO LOSE POWER. ALL ATTEMPTS TO REGAIN POWER WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. AFTER COMPLETING A 180 DEG TURN TOWARD THE AIRPORT, POWER WAS COMPLETELY LOST. INSUFFICIENT ALT REMAINED TO LAND SAFELY ON THE RUNWAY. THE ACFT WAS STALLED INTO TREES AND SUBSEQUENTLY COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION OF THE ENG AND ACFT FAILED TO REVEAL THE CAUSE OF THE POWER LOSS.
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: 328 hours in all; 296 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 278 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,769 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1B6 Hopedale MA at 1:15 pm
- Destination: AIY Bader Field NJ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 19°F (-7°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 1 | 1 |
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.