Lawrence Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Lawrence, Massachusetts 01845
Friday, March 20, 1987 23:00 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE CREW OF THE PA-31T CHEYENNE HAD MADE ONE MISSED APPROACH AND THE CO-PILOT WAS CALLING OUT THE ALTITUDES TO THE PILOT. THE PILOT'S REPLY TO THE CO-PILOT WAS THAT HE WAS JUST GOING TO DESCEND TO 400 FT. THE APPROACH MINIMUMS WERE PUBLISHED FOR AN MDA OF 660 FT PLUS 80 FT WHEN THE CONTROL ZONE IS NOT IN EFFECT. THE AIRCRAFT FLEW INTO RISING TERRAIN. THE CO-PILOT SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES, THE ACFT WAS DESTROYED DUE TO IMPACT AND FIRE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/20/1987
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 2300
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City LAWRENCE
Event State MASSACHUSETTS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 01845
Event Date Year 1987
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport LAWRENCE
Event Location Nearest Airport ID LWM
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 50
Airport Elevation 149
Weather Briefing Completeness Partial - limited by pilot
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 2330 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID LWM
Elevation of weather observation facility 149
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 1500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 1500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 1
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 2
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 300
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Moderate
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 947
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 20 1987 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2330
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 34118
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 2:01PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N200FD
NTSB Number NYC87LA113
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-31T
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-31T
Aircraft Serial Number 31-7520040
Certified Max Gross Weight 9000
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 8
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Continuous Airworthiness
Date of Last Inspection Mar 16 1987 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 12
Airframe Hours 3707
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name BIRK LEASING
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City LAWRENCE
Aircraft Owner State MA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
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 NE-F
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
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 Non-scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Mail
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code PWM
Departure City PORTLAND
Departure State ME
Departure Country
Departure Time 2000
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code LWM
Destination City LAWRENCE
Destination State MA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 23
Runway Length 4997
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --