Piper PA-28-181 accident near Orange, Massachusetts, February 22, 1990
On February 22, 1990 at about 6:10 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-181, registered N47644, was substantially damaged in an accident near Orange, Massachusetts (Orange 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
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN RUNWAY ALIGNMENT WHILE ABORTING THE TAKEOFF. THE CROSSWIND, TURBULENCE, AND SNOWBANK WERE RELATED FACTORS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 22, 1990 · about 6:10 pm local time
- Place
- Orange, Massachusetts · Orange
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N47644 · no longer on the register · serial 28-7890169
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT SAID THAT AS THE AIRCRAFT WAS TAKING OFF FROM RUNWAY 32, IT ENCOUNTERED APPARENT WINDSHEAR & TURBULENCE. INSTEAD OF CONTINUING THE FLIGHT, THE PILOT DECIDED TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF AND LAND STRAIGHT AHEAD. HOWEVER, A WING TIP & THE LANDING GEAR CONTACTED A SNOWBANK AS THE AIRCRAFT CROSSED OVER THE EDGE OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT THEN SKIDDED ON CRUSTED SNOW AND CAME TO REST 50 FEET OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY.
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: 237 hours in all; 176 in this make and model; 184 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no 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
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 5,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.