Cessna 172N accident near Chatham, Massachusetts, July 21, 1994
On July 21, 1994 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N76090, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chatham, Massachusetts (Chatham airport). 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 FAILURE TO SEE AND AVOID THE BIRDS. THE PRESENCE OF THE BIRDS AT THE AIRPORT WAS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 21, 1994 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Chatham, Massachusetts · Chatham
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N76090 · no longer on the register · serial 17268120
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT TAXIED THE AIRPLANE OUT OF THE PARKING RAMP ONTO THE PARALLEL TAXIWAY, AND TAXIED TO THE RUNUP AREA IN PREPARATION FOR TAKEOFF. THE AIRPLANE WAS POSITIONED ON THE RUNWAY, AND THE TAKEOFF ROLL WAS INITIATED. THE OPPOSITE END OF THE RUNWAY COULD NOT BE SEEN AT THE BEGINNING OF THE TAKEOFF ROLL, DUE TO A 'HUMP' NEAR THE CENTER OF THE RUNWAY. SHORTLY AFTER LIFTOFF, THE PILOT OBSERVED BIRDS RISING FROM THE OPPOSITE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE BIRDS AND THE PILOT ABORTED THE TAKEOFF. THE AIRPLANE GLIDED PAST THE END OF THE RUNWAY, TOUCHED DOWN ON A DOWNHILL SLOPE, AND COLLIDED WITH A CHAIN LINKED FENCE. BIRDS WERE KNOWN TO FLOCK TO THIS AIRPORT, AND THE AIRPORT HAD PUBLICIZED THAT BIRDS ARE IN THE VICINITY OF THE RUNWAY IN SEVERAL PUBLICATIONS. THE AREA THAT THE BIRDS FLOCK TO, AND BOTH ENDS OF THE RUNWAY, ARE VISIBLE WHEN TAXIING OUT OF THE PARKING RAMP. A WITNESS WAS ABLE TO OBSERVED THE BIRDS ON THE RUNWAY FROM THE PARKING RAMP.
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: 277 hours in all; 222 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 247 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,558 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 26, 1994; 100 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: BDL Windsor Locks CT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 3,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:45 pm from HYA, 10 miles away
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.
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.