Gardner Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Templeton, Massachusetts 01468
Saturday, January 28, 1984 19:10 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES ON UNLGTD TERRAIN AT NGT AFTER MAKING A LOW PASS AT APRX 60 FT AGL WITH THE GEAR EXTENDED. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE ACFT'S CLEARANCE LIGHTS WERE NOT OPERATING UNTIL THE RWY LIGHTS WERE TURNED ON, THEN THEY OBSERVED THE ACFT'S STROBE LIGHT. THE RWY LIGHTS COULD HAVE BEEN TURNED ON BY KEYING THE RADIO MIKE ON 123.45 MHZ. THE WITNESSES HEARD THE SOUND OF THE CRASH WHICH WAS FOLLOWED BY SILENCE. DURING IMPACT IN A WOODED AREA, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH SEVERAL TREES OVER AN AREA OF ABOUT 175 FT. THE ACFT'S LIGHT & ALTERNATOR SWITCHES WERE FOUND IN THE 'OFF' POSITION; THE BATTERY SWITCH WAS ON. THE ALTERNATOR PULLEY HAD A FRACTURE SEPARATION; HOWEVER, THE MODE OF SEPARATION WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE ACFT HAD DEPARTED MANSFIELD, MASSACHUSETS FOR MANSFIELD, NEW HAMPSHIRE AT 1845 EST. THE PLT HAD PLANNED TO RETURN IN 4 HRS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/28/1984
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1910
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City TEMPLETON
Event State MASSACHUSETTS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 01468
Event Date Year 1984
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport GARDNER
Event Location Nearest Airport ID GDM
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 195
Airport Elevation 995
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Witness
Time of the weather observation 2355 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID ORC
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
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) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -6
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -17
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 70
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 4
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 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 4
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 4
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1019
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 24760
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N55495
NTSB Number NYC84FA085
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-28R-200
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28R-200
Aircraft Serial Number 28-R-7335244
Certified Max Gross Weight 2650
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 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Oct 10 1983 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 46
Airframe Hours 3073
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name FOXTROT PAPA, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 99 HIGH ST. ROOM 2050
Aircraft Owner City BOSTON
Aircraft Owner State MA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 02110
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name POWELL AVIATION, INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address MANSFIELD MUNICIPAL AIRPORT
Operator City MANSFIELD
Operator State MA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
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 --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code 1B9
Departure City MANSFIELD
Departure State MA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1845
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code MHT
Destination City MANCHESTER
Destination State NH
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
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 18
Runway Length 3000
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --