Piper PA-22-150 accident near Chester, New Hampshire, May 3, 1996
On May 3, 1996 at about 7:20 pm local time, a Piper PA-22-150, registered N2946P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chester, New Hampshire (Heaton Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's misjudged distance and altitude during final approach.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 3, 1996 · about 7:20 pm local time
- Place
- Chester, New Hampshire · Heaton Airport
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-150 · all PA-22-150s on the register
- Registration
- N2946P · registry record · serial 22-3216
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane collided with bushes short of the runway and nosed over during the landing. The pilot did not recall the accident. The passenger reported that during the final approach, he was observing the surrounding terrain. He then looked forward and observed bushes which the airplane collided with. Also, no attempts were made by the pilot to add power during the approach, and there were no malfunctions with the airplane prior to impact. Examination of the wreckage by a FAA Inspector did not disclose evidence of mechanical malfunction. An undetermined amount of fuel was observed in the airplane and in the carburetor bowl.
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: 2,500 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 2,400 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,074 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 12, 1996; 7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MHT Manchester NH
- Destination: NH61 NH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 1,700 ft by 130 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 10,000 ft; scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:45 pm from MHT, 14 miles away
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.