Laurence G. Hanscom Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Lincoln, Massachusetts 01773
Saturday, May 23, 1998 15:38 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

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.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/23/1998
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1538
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City LINCOLN
Event State MASSACHUSETTS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 01773
Event Date Year 1998
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport LAURENCE G. HANSCOM FIELD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID BED
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 2
Degrees magnetic from airport 180
Airport Elevation 124
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1937 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 10
Weather Observation Facility ID BED
Elevation of weather observation facility 130
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 2
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 30
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 25
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 10
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 310
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 20
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 200
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1174
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 23 1998 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1717
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 11:23AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N82824
NTSB Number NYC98FA111
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-28RT-201
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28RT-20
Aircraft Serial Number 28R8118017
Certified Max Gross Weight 2750
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 25 1997 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 86
Airframe Hours 4541
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name RAMBAR AVIATION, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 4307
Aircraft Owner City PARKERSBURG
Aircraft Owner State WV
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 26104
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code PKB
Departure City PARKERSBURG
Departure State WV
Departure Country
Departure Time 1100
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code BED
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 29
Runway Length 7001
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --