North American T-28B accident near New Braintree, Massachusetts, October 28, 1989
On October 28, 1989 at about 7:10 pm local time, a North American T-28B, registered N504GH, was substantially damaged in an accident near New Braintree, Massachusetts (Tanner-Hiller airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE NOSE GEAR, WHICH FAILED TO RETRACT WITH THE MAIN LANDING GEAR AFTER TAKEOFF; THE GEAR WAS OBSERVED TO BE MISALIGNED, AND COLLAPSED DURING THE AIRCRAFT'S TOUCHDOWN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 28, 1989 · about 7:10 pm local time
- Place
- New Braintree, Massachusetts · Tanner-Hiller
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- North American T-28B · all T-28Bs on the register
- Registration
- N504GH · registry record · serial 138140
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT WHEN HE RETRACTED THE LANDING GEAR AFTER TAKEOFF, HE DID NOT GET A 'NOSE GEAR UP' INDICATION. THE GEAR WAS CYCLED AND GROUND OBSERVERS REPORTED THAT THE NOSE GEAR APPEARED TO HAVE 'ROTATED OUT OF PROPER ORIENTATION.' THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED UPON TOUCHDOWN. THE CAUSE OF THE NOSE GEAR MALFUNCTION WAS NOT DETERMINED.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: glider; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 13,000 hours in all; 236 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 1989
- Maximum gross weight: 7,150 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Wright R-1820-86B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: 8B5 New Braintree MA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 6, 2,810 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.