Piper PA-24-180 accident near Hartford, Vermont, November 9, 1995
On November 9, 1995 at about 4:26 pm local time, a Piper PA-24-180, registered N7734P, was destroyed in an accident near Hartford, Vermont (Lebanon airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's inadequate preflight planning/preparation, his inadequate removal of airframe ice, and his failure to maintain adequate airspeed, which resulted in a stall/spin and an inflight collision with terrain. Factors relating to the accident were: the pilot allowed the airplane's gross weight to be exceeded, and he failed to raise the landing gear during the climb after takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 9, 1995 · about 4:26 pm local time
- Place
- Hartford, Vermont · Lebanon
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-180 · all PA-24-180s on the register
- Registration
- N7734P · no longer on the register · serial 24-2948
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A witness observed the airplane during its initial climb after takeoff, in a slow rate of climb, with the landing gear extended. A flight instructor, flying above and behind, observed the airplane pitch up and enter a two turn left spin. He observed the airplane crash in a steep descent, with the landing gear extended, about 3 miles from the airport. Examination of the wreckage revealed no preimpact failure of the airframe or engine. The airplane had departed with full fuel, three occupants, and 159 pounds of baggage. The airplane was about 124 pounds over its maximum gross weight. Before the flight, the pilot requested that a lineman brush snow off of the airplane, and after the snow was removed, light icing remained on the inboard wing and left inboard horizontal stabilizer.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 896 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 107 in the last 90 days; 48 in the last 30 days; 896 as pilot in command; 361 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,032 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 4, 1995; 106 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LEB Lebanon NH at 4:23 pm
- Destination: AGC Pittsburgh PA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 28°F (-2°C), dew point 9°F (-13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:27 pm from LEB, 3 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.