Cessna 170B accident near Newburyport, Massachusetts, April 7, 1991
On April 7, 1991 at about 3:40 pm local time, a Cessna 170B, registered N3108A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Newburyport, Massachusetts (Plum Island airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT FAILING TO COMPENSATE ADEQUATELY FOR ADVERSE WIND CONDITIONS DURING TAKEOFF.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 7, 1991 · about 3:40 pm local time
- Place
- Newburyport, Massachusetts · Plum Island
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 170B · all 170Bs on the register
- Registration
- N3108A · registry record · serial 25752
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED HE LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING TAKEOFF IN A GUSTY CROSSWIND. HE SAID, 'AIRCRAFT...ALMOST INSTANTLY VEERED OFF TO THE LEFT DUE TO A SUDDEN GUST OF WIND.' THE WIND WAS NEARLY A 90 DEGREE CROSSWIND WITH GUSTS TO 20 KNOTS. A POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO MALFUNCTIONS OF THE FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM OR THE ENGINE.
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: 312 hours in all; 250 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-145-2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: BVY Beverly MA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 252 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°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.