Piper PA-32R-301T accident near Bedford, Massachusetts, April 8, 1990
On April 8, 1990 at about 4:40 pm local time, a Piper PA-32R-301T, registered N363CC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bedford, Massachusetts (Bedford airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AND SUBSEQUENT MELTING/SHORTING OF THE MAGNETO P-LEADS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 8, 1990 · about 4:40 pm local time
- Place
- Bedford, Massachusetts · Bedford
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R-301T PA-32R-301 · all PA-32R-301Ts on the register
- Registration
- N363CC · registry record · serial 32R8029071
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A PIPER PA-32-301T WAS ON CLIMB OUT FROM BEDFORD, AT AN ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 600 FEET AGL WHEN THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING. THE PILOT MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING ON A TAXIWAY AND LANDED HARD, COLLAPSING THE LANDING GEAR. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE SHOWED THE EXHAUST INTERMEDIATE PIPE FLANGE FAILED AND SEPARATED FROM THE CROSSOVER PIPE. HOT GASES MELTED THE INSULATION ON THE 'P' LEADS OF THE MAGNETO SHORTING IT OUT. THE EXHAUST INTERMEDIATE PIPE AND THE CROSSOVER PIPE WERE IMPROPERLY INSTALLED.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,600 hours in all; 150 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 1,970 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,477 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 21, 1989; 219 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-S1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: BTV Burlington VT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 7,001 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 13 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 41°F (5°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.