Piper PA-11 accident near Walpole, Maine, July 13, 1989
On July 13, 1989 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-11, registered N5014H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Walpole, Maine. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE POWERLINE WHICH THE AIRPLANE CONTACTED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 13, 1989 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Walpole, Maine
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-11 · all PA-11s on the register
- Registration
- N5014H · registry record · serial 11-849
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS ON A 1 MILE DECENT TO HIS HOME AIRPORT WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND SHORTLY THERE AFTER STOPPED. THE PILOT ELECTED TO MAKE A 270 DEGREE TURN IN AN EFFORT TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A FIELD. WHILE THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON SHORT FINAL, THE LEFT LANDING GEAR CAUGHT A POWER LINE CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO FALL VERTICALLY ABOUT 20 FEET, IMPACTING THE GROUND. AN ON-SCENE INSPECTION OF THE FUEL TANKS AND CARBURETOR SHOWED SUFFICIENT FUEL.
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: 630 hours in all; 125 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,455 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 20, 1989; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-90-8F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Wayne ME at 5:30 pm
- Destination: Walpole ME
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.