Piper PA-28-180 accident near Sanbornton, New Hampshire, September 2, 1989
On September 2, 1989 at about 2:00 am local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N9334J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sanbornton, New Hampshire. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
VFR FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC) BY THE PILOT, AND HIS INADEQUATE REMEDIAL ACTION TO CORRECT THE SITUATION. THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS AND DARKNESS WERE RELATED FACTORS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 2, 1989 · about 2:00 am local time
- Place
- Sanbornton, New Hampshire
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N9334J · no longer on the register · serial 28-3431
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER THE PLT OF PIPER PA-28, N9334J, TOOK OFF AT NGT BEHIND CESSNA, N65595, HE AND THE OTR PLT ENCTRD MARGINAL WX CONDS. A PSGR OF N9334J RPRTD THE 2 ACFT ENCTRD LOW CLDS & TURBC. HE SAID THE 2 ACFT CONVERGED TO W/I 100' OF EACH OTHER & THE PA-28 PLT TOOK ACTION TO MAINT SEPN FM THE CESSNA. THE PA-28 PLT RPRTD THAT AFTER ENCTRG ADVERSE WX, HE ELECTED TO RTRN TO THE ARPT; HOWEVER, HIS ACFT ENCTRD SVR TURBC AND WINDSHEAR THAT RESULTED IN A SUDDEN LOSS OF ALT. HE SAID HE LEVELED THE WINGS & APPLIED FULL PWR, BUT THE PSGR PANICKED & PULLED BACK ON THE YOKE, WHICH AGGRAVATED THE SITUATION. THE PSGR SAID THAT HE GRABBED & PULLED BACK ON THE YOKE, ONLY WHEN A NOSE DOWN COLLISION WITH TERRAIN WAS IMMINENT. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT IMPACTED IN A HAYFIELD & SLID ON ITS BELLY TO A STOP. A WITNESS RPRTD LOW CLDS, FOG AND RAIN. THE WIND WAS RPRTD TO BE GSTG TO 30 KTS.
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; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 634 hours in all; 608 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 559 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,501 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 3, 1989; 1,122 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A3A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LCI Laconia NH at 2:00 am
- Destination: 2B2 Newburyport MA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 230° at 22 knots, gusting 30
- Sky: broken clouds; not recorded
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.