Piper PA-28-180 accident near Northampton, Massachusetts, January 14, 1990
On January 14, 1990 at about 7:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N8201W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Northampton, Massachusetts (Northhampton airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
PILOT'S IMPROPER HANDLING OF THE AIRPLANE, RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 14, 1990 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Northampton, Massachusetts · Northhampton
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N8201W · registry record · serial 28-2330
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED NORTHAMPTON FOR A LOCAL FLIGHT AND AFTER A PRACTICE OF SLOW FLIGHT AND ONE POWER-OFF STALL, THE FLIGHT RETURNED TO THE AIRPORT. THE WIND WAS REPORTED TO BE FROM 040 DEGREES AT 10 KNOTS WITH PEAK GUSTS TO 15 KNOTS. THE PILOT CONTINUED THE APPROACH AND TOUCHED DOWN ON RUNWAY 32, BUT DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS LOST AND THE AIRPLANE SKIDDED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH A STAND OF LARGE BRUSH.
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; 34 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A3A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 3,500 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 15,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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.