Piper PA-28RT-201 accident near Lincoln, Massachusetts, May 23, 1998
On May 23, 1998 at about 7:38 pm local time, a Piper PA-28RT-201, registered N82824, was destroyed in an accident near Lincoln, Massachusetts (Laurence G. Hanscom Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 23, 1998 · about 7:38 pm local time
- Place
- Lincoln, Massachusetts · Laurence G. Hanscom Field
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28RT-201 PA-28RT-20 · all PA-28RT-201s on the register
- Registration
- N82824 · no longer on the register · serial 28R8118017
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane crashed while turning downwind for landing on runway 29 after a 4.5 hour cross-country flight. The pilot was in contact with the tower, but no distress calls were recorded. A witness stated that she saw the airplane come from the west, and bank sharply to the right, at a 45 degree angle, just above the trees. 'It did not sound like there was any engine trouble.' The witness further stated that it looked like the plane 'was trying to nose up it did not look like a plane crashing.' Inspection of the accident site revealed the airplane impacted the ground in wooded area in a descent angle of 48 degrees. The wreckage was oriented on a 180 degree magnetic heading. Examination or the aircraft revealed no evidence of a mechanical malfunction.
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: 76 hours in all; 6 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 30 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,541 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 25, 1997; 86 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1C6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PKB Parkersburg WV at 3:00 pm
- Destination: BED
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 29, 7,001 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 12 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:37 pm from BED, 2 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.