Amateur-built PAZMANY PL-4A accident near Orange, Massachusetts, November 13, 1994
On November 13, 1994 at about 8:39 pm local time, a amateur-built PAZMANY PL-4A, registered N337RL, was substantially damaged in an accident near Orange, Massachusetts (Orange Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper flare which resulted in a hard landing, collapse of the main gear, and inflight collision with the ground.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 13, 1994 · about 8:39 pm local time
- Place
- Orange, Massachusetts · Orange Municipal
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built PAZMANY PL-4A PAZMANY PL
- Registration
- N337RL · registry record · serial 573
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO LAND ON THE GRASS BESIDE RUNWAY 01. THE AIRPLANE LANDED HARD, BOUNCED, COLLAPSED THE MAIN LANDING GEAR, IMPACTED THE GROUND NOSE FIRST. THE PILOT WAS INJURED DURING THE IMPACT SEQUENCE WHEN HIS HEAD STRUCK THE CANOPY. ACCORDING TO THE FAA, RESCUE PERSONNEL, REPORTED THAT WHEN THEY ARRIVED AT THE CRASH SITE, THE PILOT WAS NOT BUCKLED TO THE SEAT, AND WAS SITTING ON THE SEAT BELTS.
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: 650 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 988 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A75-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 1, 5,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number NYC95LA025.