Piper PA-34-200T accident near Bedford, Massachusetts, August 20, 1992
On August 20, 1992 at about 8:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-34-200T, registered N8371H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bedford, Massachusetts (Laurence G. Hanscom Field). 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
THE PILOT'S LOSS OF AIRPLANE CONTROL DURING THE FLARE, RESULTING IN PORPOISING AND SUBSEQUENT HARD LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 20, 1992 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Bedford, Massachusetts · Laurence G. Hanscom Field
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-34-200T · all PA-34-200Ts on the register
- Registration
- N8371H · no longer on the register · serial 7103420
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE WAS LANDING ON RUNWAY 29. A WITNESS ON THE AIRPORT SAW N8371H PORPOISING SEVERAL TIMES PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN. HE SAID, 'AFTER PORPOISING ANOTHER 4 TO 5 TIMES THE PLANE THEN PITCHED OVER AND DESCENDED TO THE RUNWAY, HITTING NOSE WHEEL FIRST...IT...PITCHED NOSE UP TO AN ALTITUDE OF 20-30' AND THEN PITCHED OVER...HITTING THE RUNWAY AGAIN NOSE FIRST.'
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,968 hours in all; 198 in this make and model; 14.1 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 2,700 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,820 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 2, 1900; 35 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,750 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ASH Nashua NH at 7:03 pm
- Destination: BFD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 7,200 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
Other NTSB records under N8371H the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.