Piper PA-32RT-300T accident near Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, August 31, 1989
On August 31, 1989 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-32RT-300T, registered N21353, was destroyed in an accident near Wolfeboro, New Hampshire (Lakes Region airport). It was an instructional 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
INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS BY THE OWNER/PILOT-IN-COMMAND (PIC), HIS FAILUE TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALTITUDE ON THE APPROACH, AND FAILURE OF THE OTHER PILOT (OWNER'S INSTRUCTOR PILOT) TO TAKE REMEDIAL ACTION. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE ADVERSE WIND CONDITIONS AND TREES NEAR THE APPROACH END OF THE RUNWAY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 31, 1989 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Wolfeboro, New Hampshire · Lakes Region
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32RT-300T PA-32RT-30 · all PA-32RT-300Ts on the register
- Registration
- N21353 · registry record · serial 32R-7887201
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING AN APCH TO LAND ON RWY 30, THE OWNER/PIC INITIATED A SHORT FIELD LANDING. THE WIND WAS REPORTED TO BE FROM 300 DEG AT 15 GUSTING 25 KTS. ACCORDING TO THE OWNER, THE AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED WIND SHEAR ON FINAL APCH & STARTED TO SETTLE. POWER WAS ADDED, BUT THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO DESCEND. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT ROLLED TO THE LEFT AS THE LEFT WING HIT TREE TOPS, THEN IT NOSED OVER & IMPACTED THE GROUND. THE OWNER'S INSTRUCTOR PILOT (CFI) WAS ABOARD, BUT THE OWNER WAS CONSIDERED TO BE THE PIC ON THIS FLT.
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: 141 hours in all; 13 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 53 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,465 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 26, 1989; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-S1AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LC1 Laconia NH at 3:15 pm
- Destination: 8B8
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 2,030 ft by 50 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 15 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°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.