Lawrence Muni Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

No. Andover, Massachusetts 01845
Wednesday, December 27, 1989 12:24 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING THE FINAL APPROACH, THE PILOT OF N9975Q WAS INSTRUCTED BY THE TOWER TO MAKE A GO-AROUND, BECAUSE ANOTHER AIRPLANE HAD FAILED TO RESPOND TO TOWER INSTRUCTIONS. THE PILOT SAID, 'I APPLIED FULL THROTTLE AND CLOSED THE CARB HEAT THEN THE ENGINE SPUTTERED AND QUIT.' WHEN THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY LANDING, THE OTHER AIRPLANE WAS ON THE RUNWAY, STILL IGNORING TOWER INSTRUCTIONS. THE PILOT OF N9975Q BANKED LEFT AND LANDED IN SNOW COVERED GRASS, AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. NO MECHANICAL DISCREPANCIES WERE FOUND DURING THE POST-ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION OF THE ENGINE; HOWEVER, THE MAGNETO SWITCH WAS SET IN THE OFF POSITION.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT INADVERTENTLY TURNED OFF THE MAGNETO SWITCH DURING A GO-AROUND, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF POWER. ALSO CAUSAL TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT OF A SECOND AIRPLANE TO RESPOND TO THE TOWER CONTROLLER'S INSTRUCTIONS. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S LIMITED FLIGHT EXPERIENCE IN THIS MODEL AIRPLANE.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/27/1989
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1224
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City NO. ANDOVER
Event State MASSACHUSETTS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 01845
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport LAWRENCE MUNI
Event Location Nearest Airport ID LWM
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 149
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -12
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 280
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2350
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Dec 27 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1410
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 42541
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9975Q
NTSB Number NYC90LA042
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-18-135
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-18-135
Aircraft Serial Number 18-4038
Certified Max Gross Weight 1500
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City
Aircraft Owner State
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name GEORGE W. JOYNER
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address BOX 670 OLD AYRE ROAD
Operator City GROTON
Operator State MA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 01450
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 LWM
Departure City NO. ANDOVER
Departure State MA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1210
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 14
Runway Length 3901
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --