Piper PA-28-236 accident near Rehoboth, Massachusetts, August 3, 1995
On August 3, 1995 at about 2:35 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-236, registered N8072X, was destroyed in an accident near Rehoboth, Massachusetts. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadvertent flight into hazardous weather, which subsequently resulted in exceeding the design stress limits of the airplane and an in-flight breakup. Factors relating to the accident were: embedded thunderstorms, turbulence, and failure of the National Weather Service to issue a Convective SIGMET or a Center Weather Advisory.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 3, 1995 · about 2:35 pm local time
- Place
- Rehoboth, Massachusetts
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-236 · all PA-28-236s on the register
- Registration
- N8072X · registry record · serial 29-7911308
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During IFR flight at 7,000 feet msl, the pilot encountered convective weather activity, and subsequently, the airplane broke up in flight. The breakup included separation of both outer wing panels, the vertical stabilizer, the right horizontal stabilator, and the outboard portion of the left horizontal stabilator. Deformation indicated upward failure of the wings and downward failure of the stabilators. The Area Forecast was indicating widely scattered thunderstorms for an area that included the accident location; however, there were no Convective SIGMETS or Center Weather Advisories in effect. Investigation revealed that ATC had issued a warning about a thunderstorm ahead and had provided clearance for a vector around the weather. The pilot did not respond, and about 20 seconds later, the transmission was repeated. The pilot acknowledged and initiated a turn, but radar and weather data showed that the airplane tracked to about 2 nautical miles from a Level 5 to Level 6 thunderstorm. The airplane then entered a descent and crashed. The cloud bases were near 800 feet, and cloud tops were above 15,000 feet. There was moderate or greater convective turbulence below 10,000 feet, with up and downdrafts and horizontal wind gusts. Also, there were embedded thunderstorms, and the freezing level was above 14,000 feet. Two ground witnesses stated that when they observed the airplane, 'very hard' rain was falling with lightning and thunder.
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: 886 hours in all; 37 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,638 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 13, 1995; 70 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-J3A5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: D70 Honoyoe Falls NY at 12:15 pm
- Destination: CQX Chatham MA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 800 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:46 pm from PVD, 9 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.