Piper PA-18-150 accident near Stow, Massachusetts, November 18, 1994
On November 18, 1994 at about 11:20 pm local time, a Piper PA-18-150, registered N14315, was destroyed in an accident near Stow, Massachusetts (Minute Man Airfield). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate terrain clearance, which resulted in an inflight collision with trees. Other related factors were: heavy rain, moderate turbulence, dark night, and high winds.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 18, 1994 · about 11:20 pm local time
- Place
- Stow, Massachusetts · Minute Man Airfield
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18-150 · all PA-18-150s on the register
- Registration
- N14315 · registry record · serial 18-7609012
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS VECTORED FOR AN NIGHT NDB CIRCLING APPROACH. HE REPORTED THE WEATHER AS 900 FEET OVERCAST, HEAVY RAIN, MODERATE TURBULENCE AND CROSSWINDS GUSTING TO 20 KNOTS. HE SAW THE RUNWAY, CANCELLED THE IFR CLEARANCE AND INITIATED THE CIRCLING APPROACH. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED TREES 1/2 MILE FROM THE RUNWAY. THE RUNWAY DID NOT HAVE RUNWAY END IDENTIFICATION LIGHTS OR A VASI.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,416 hours in all; 2,200 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 4,270 as pilot in command; 1,011 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,600 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,625 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 6B9 Skaneateles NY at 8:20 pm
- Destination: 6B6
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 3, 2,743 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 070° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 2.5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 900 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.
Other NTSB records under N14315 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.