Piper PA22-150 accident near Uxbridge, Massachusetts, June 3, 1989
On June 3, 1989 at about 5:50 pm local time, a Piper PA22-150, registered N9965D, was destroyed in an accident near Uxbridge, Massachusetts. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IMPROPER MANEUVERING SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF FROM A PRIVATE GRASS STRIP OF MARGINAL LENGTH FOR THE CALIBER OF ACFT BEING OPERATED. A WIND CHANGE ADDED TO THE ALREADY EXACTING CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 3, 1989 · about 5:50 pm local time
- Place
- Uxbridge, Massachusetts
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA22-150 · all PA22-150s on the register
- Registration
- N9965D · no longer on the register · serial 22-6756
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A LEFT TURN AFTER TAKEOFF FROM A PRIVATE GRASS STRIP THE PILOT SAID HE ENCOUNTERED WIND SHEAR AND DID NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO RECOVER. THE AIRCRAFT HIT THE TOPS OF TREES THEN FELL TO THE GROUND UPSIDE DOWN. THE PILOT AND HIS PASSENGER RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES BUT THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED BY THE POST CRASH FIRE.
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: 580 hours in all; 430 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,875 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 15, 1989; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Uxbridge MA at 6:50 pm
- Destination: SFZ Lincoln RI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 1,200 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 5 knots, gusting 8
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.