Piper PA-28-140 accident near North Haven, Maine, December 4, 1993
On December 4, 1993 at about 7:20 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N55719, was substantially damaged in an accident near North Haven, Maine (Watson airport). 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 use of excessive speed and altitude during the approach which resulted in a landing overrun of the runway. Factors were a precautionary landing and a ravine.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 4, 1993 · about 7:20 pm local time
- Place
- North Haven, Maine · Watson
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N55719 · registry record · serial 28-7325467
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT HEARD A NOISE FROM THE ENGINE WHICH HE DESCRIBED AS, 'VERY LOUD AND PERSISTENT RATTLE WITH SOME ATTENDING VIBRATION.' HE SET UP FOR A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING; HOWEVER, HE SAID HE WAS HIGH AND FAST AND TOUCHED DOWN OVER HALF WAY DOWN THE 2000 FOOT LONG RUNWAY WITH WET GRASS. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE AIRPLANE ON THE REMAINING RUNWAY AND STEERED THE AIRPLANE OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY WHERE IT WENT DOWN AN EMBANKMENT AND STOPPED. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION FOUND THE EXHAUST STACK ON THE NUMBER ONE CYLINDER HAD BROKEN AT THE MOUNTING FLANGE.
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; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 413 hours in all; 4 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,767 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 5, 1993; 43 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RKD Rockland ME at 7:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,000 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:35 pm from RKD, 10 miles away
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.