Aerodyne VECTOR 727 SENIOR accident near Berlin, Massachusetts, June 16, 1990
On June 16, 1990, a Aerodyne VECTOR 727 SENIOR (ultralight), registered UNREG, was destroyed in an accident near Berlin, Massachusetts. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IN-FLIGHT FAILURE OF THE WINGS FOR UNDETERMINED REASON(S).
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 16, 1990
- Place
- Berlin, Massachusetts
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerodyne VECTOR 727 SENIOR VECTOR 727
- Registration
- UNREG · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ULTRALIGHT WAS OBSERVED ON FINAL APPROACH. A LOUD BANG WAS HEARD AND THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED TO THE GROUND. THE BALLISTIC PARACHUTE WAS FOUND DEPLOYED. SOME WITNESSES REPORTED THE WINGS FOLDED PRIOR TO IMPACT. PORTIONS OF THE PROPELLER WITH RED TIPS WERE FOUND ALONG THE APPROACH PATH FOR 75 YARDS, AND THERE WERE RED PAINT TRANSFER MARKS ON THE BOTTOM LEFT TAIL BOOM.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,100 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Unknown (expired)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax BOMBADIER (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Stow MA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: not recorded; 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.
Other NTSB records under UNREG the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.