Piper PA-28-181 accident near Worcester, Massachusetts, February 14, 1990
On February 14, 1990 at about 1:31 am local time, a Piper PA-28-181, registered N763DS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Worcester, Massachusetts. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A POWER LOSS DUE TO AN OIL PUMP FAILURE WHILE OPERATING OVER UNSUITABLE TERRAIN. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS NIGHT CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 14, 1990 · about 1:31 am local time
- Place
- Worcester, Massachusetts
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N763DS · no longer on the register · serial 28-7690331
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AT NIGHT, WHILE ENROUTE TO NORTHAMPTON, MASSACHUSETTS, THE AIRPLANE ENGINE FAILED. THE PILOT LANDED IN THE PARKING LOT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS MEDICAL CENTER, WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, AND COLLIDED WITH A CAR AND A UTILITY POLE THAT COULD NOT HAVE BEEN AVOIDED. THE ENGINE EXAMINATION REVEALED THE OIL PUMP FAILED. THE CONNECTING RODS WERE OVERTEMPERTURED, AND THE BEARINGS OF THE CONNECTING RODS HAD FAILED. BENCH BINOCULAR MICROSCOPIC EXAMINATION OF THE DRIVE AND DRIVEN IMPELLER FRACTURE SURFACES OF THE OIL PUMP REVEALED THAT THEY BROKE AS A RESULT OF OVERSTRESS SEPARATIONS. THE DRIVEN IMPELLER HAD CHARACTERISTICS TYPICAL OF A SINTERED-POWER-METAL COMPONENTS, THE TOTAL TIME ON THE COMPONENT WAS 1828.0 HOURS. THE DRIVE IMPELLER APPEARED TO BE MACHINED FROM BARSTOCK (STEEL). SB-456C TIME OF COMPLIANCE WAS AT NEXT OVERHAUL, NOT TO EXCEED 2000 HOURS WITH SINTERED IRON GEARS.
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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,083 hours in all; 405 in this make and model; 88 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 926 as pilot in command; 415 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: City Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: OWD Norwood MA at 1:00 am
- Destination: 7B2 Northampton MA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.