Cessna 414A accident near Grt Barrington, Massachusetts, October 27, 1995
On October 27, 1995 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Cessna 414A, registered N2UD, was substantially damaged in an accident near Grt Barrington, Massachusetts (Great Barrington airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions, which resulted in an undershoot of the proper touchdown point for landing. Factors relating to the accident were: the unfavorable wind conditions and the exposed runway lip.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 27, 1995 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Grt Barrington, Massachusetts · Great Barrington
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 414A · all 414As on the register
- Registration
- N2UD · no longer on the register · serial 414A0315
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
As the pilot was landing on runway 11, which was 2,600 feet long and 50 feet wide, the airplane touched down short of the runway lip, and the right main landing gear collapsed. The airplane then skidded off the right side of the runway onto the grass, and struck a fence. According to the pilot, 'just prior to normal touchdown, the airplane dropped from a downdraft or from wind shear.' The wind was reported to be from 120 degrees at 20, gusting 30 knots.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,037 hours in all; 255 in this make and model; 38 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 1,804 as pilot in command; 3 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,176 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 4, 1994; 154 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,750 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIOL-550 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BDR Bridgeport CT at 7:00 pm
- Destination: GBR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 11, 2,600 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 20 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 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.
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.