Piper PA-28-180 accident near Norfolk, Massachusetts, August 12, 1995
On August 12, 1995 at about 11:50 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N8252W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Norfolk, Massachusetts (Norfolk 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 misjudgement of speed and distance during the landing, which resulted in a runway overrun. Factors relating to the accident were: heavy rain, wet runway, and hydroplaning conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 12, 1995 · about 11:50 pm local time
- Place
- Norfolk, Massachusetts · Norfolk
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N8252W · no longer on the register · serial 28-2402
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot noticed the weather on his route of flight was deteriorating. He elected to land and wait for the weather to improve. The pilot stated, '...upon reaching the airport bounds I encountered extremely heavy rain and moderate to severe turbulence...my forward visibility was zero.' The pilot reported he landed on the first third of the runway length, but was unable to stop due to hydroplaning, and the aircraft overran the runway. According to an FAA inspector, the pilot landed in heavy rain at higher than recommended speed and about half way down the runway, which had standing water. The aircraft collided with trees and a fence. Before takeoff, the pilot received weather information from a Flight Service Station, and was advised of possible heavy rain and thunderstorms.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 759 hours in all; 271 in this make and model; 44 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 666 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,159 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 25, 1995; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A3A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MVY Marthas Vineyar MA at 10:35 pm
- Destination: FIT Fitchburg MA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,700 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 10 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.