Lawrence Muni Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

North Andover, Massachusetts 01845
Sunday, May 6, 1984 18:27 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PLT STATED TO POLICE THAT HE WAS POSITIONING THE PROP FOR A PHOTO WHEN THE ENGINE STARTED AND THE AIRPLANE TRAVELED 2500 FT UNATTENDED ACROSS THE ARPT BEFORE IT BECAME AIRBORNE AND STRUCK THE REAR OF A COMMERCIAL BLDG THAT HOUSED THREE BUSINESSES, INCLUDING AN AUTO BODY SHOP. THREE OCCUPANTS OF THE BLDG EVACUATED WITHOUT INJURY. THE AIRPLANE AND BLDG WERE DESTROYED BY IMPACT, EXPLOSION, AND FIRE THAT WAS FED BY ACFT FUEL AND FLAMMABLES IN THE BLDG. EXAMINATION OF THE ACFT RVLD THAT THE THROTTLE AND MIXTURE CNTRLS WERE IN THE OPEN POSITION; HOWEVER, EXTENSIVE FIRE DAMAGE PRECLUDED AN EXAM OF THE IGNITION SWITCH, PARKING BRAKE, OR BATTERY. THE CHOCKS AND TIE DOWN ROPES HAD BEEN REMOVED FROM THE ACFT. THE STUDENT PLT/OWNER OF N5385F REFUSED TO MAKE A STATEMENT TO NTSB PERSONNEL.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/6/1984
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1827
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City NORTH ANDOVER
Event State MASSACHUSETTS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 01845
Event Date Year 1984
Event Date Month 5
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 Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 140
Airport Elevation 149
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1827 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 300
Weather Observation Facility ID LWM
Elevation of weather observation facility 149
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 5000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 35
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 330
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) 30
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) 3310
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 27886
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 N5385F
NTSB Number NYC84FA159
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 Ground
Aircraft Explosion Ground
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-28-140
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-140
Aircraft Serial Number 28-7725049
Certified Max Gross Weight 2150
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 Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ADAM KROCHMAL
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2 HAMMATT STREET
Aircraft Owner City IPSWICH
Aircraft Owner State MA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 01938
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code LWM
Departure City NORTH ANDOVER
Departure State MA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1827
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City UNKNOWN
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 14
Runway Length 3900
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --