Piper PA-32 accident near Spencer, Massachusetts, June 28, 1993
On June 28, 1993 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-32, registered N3490W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Spencer, Massachusetts (Spencer airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING FOR THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE DEPARTURE AND THE DELAY IN ABORTING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, WITH INSUFFICIENT RUNWAY REMAINING, RESULTING IN A COLLISION WITH TREES
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 28, 1993 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Spencer, Massachusetts · Spencer
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32 · all PA-32s on the register
- Registration
- N3490W · no longer on the register · serial 32-369
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS DEPARTING ON A RETURN CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT WITH THREE PASSENGERS, BAGGAGE AND FULL FUEL. DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, JUST BEYOND THE HALF WAY POINT OF THE 1930 FOOT RUNWAY, THE PILOT WAS UNSURE THAT THE AIRPLANE WOULD CLEAR TREES AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY. APPROXIMATELY THREE QUARTERS OF WAY DOWN THE RUNWAY, THE PILOT PULLED OFF THE POWER AND ABORTED THE TAKEOFF. THE AIRPLANE OVERRAN THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY AND IMPACTED TREES. THE AIRPORT ELEVATION WAS 1040 FEET ABOVE MEAN SEA LEVEL AND THE OUTSIDE AIR TEMPERATURE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT OPERATING HANDBOOK THE DISTANCE REQUIRED FOR THIS TAKEOFF TO CLEAR A 50 FOOT OBSTACLE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1900 FEET
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 496 hours in all; 47 in this make and model; 38 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 496 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,930 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 1993; 35 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-E4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MA10 at 4:30 pm
- Destination: N88 Doylestown PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 1,930 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.