Piper J3 accident near Greenland, New Hampshire, October 28, 1993
On October 28, 1993 at about 5:20 pm local time, a Piper J3, registered N24524, was substantially damaged in an accident near Greenland, New Hampshire (Sanderson'S Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper landing flare which resulted in a hard landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 28, 1993 · about 5:20 pm local time
- Place
- Greenland, New Hampshire · Sanderson'S Field
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper J3 · all J3s on the register
- Registration
- N24524 · registry record · serial 3266
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE LANDED HARD, COLLAPSING THE MAIN GEAR. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, 'I WAS IN LINE WITH INTENDED TOUCH DOWN POINT, WINGS LEVEL, CARBURETOR HEAT ON, POWER OFF (IDLE), TRIMMED FOR THREE POINT LANDING. JUST BEFORE THE FLARE POINT, I FELT THE LOSS OF LIFT AND INCREASE IN SINK RATE. ADDING POWER AND OTHER CONTROL INPUT HAD NO EFFECT. THE MAIN GEAR CONTACTED THE GROUND, BROKE, AND SPREAD. THE BOTTOM OF THE FUSELAGE CONTACTED THE GROUND AND WE SLID ON IT FOR 20 OR 30 FEET, THEN FLIPPED OVER.' THE PILOT REPORTED NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS.
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: 600 hours in all; 150 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,942 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 25, 1993; 71 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A65 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 7B3 Hampton NH at 3:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 8, 3,000 ft by 200 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.