Piper PA-12 accident near Franconia, New Hampshire, September 23, 1990
On September 23, 1990 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-12, registered N2770M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Franconia, New Hampshire (Franconia airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE LANDING OF THE AIRPLANE IN UNSUITABLE TERRAIN, DUE TO THE MECHANICAL FAILURE OF THE ENGINE CENTER MUFFLER BAFFLE, WHICH BLOCKED THE EXHAUST FLOW, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF POWER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 23, 1990 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Franconia, New Hampshire · Franconia
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-12 · all PA-12s on the register
- Registration
- N2770M · registry record · serial 1468-15
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE WAS ON A SIGHTSEEING TRIP CRUISING AT 1500' WHEN, ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, 'A BACKFIRE WAS HEARD AND THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED PARTIAL POWER LOSS. SUFFICIENT POWER WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR CONTINUED FLIGHT. AN EMERGENCY LANDING WAS MADE IN THE TREES.' A MAINTENANCE FACILITY EXAMINED THE ENGINE AND FOUND THE CENTER MUFFLER BAFFLE HAD BROKEN LOOSE AND HAD BLOCKED THE EXHAUST FLOW. THIS RESULTED IN A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.
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; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 12,410 hours in all; 1,140 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.