Minute Man Air Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Stow, Massachusetts 01775
Saturday, November 23, 2002 12:40 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported the airplane was on final approach to runway 30, a 1,600 foot-long, gravel runway, when it experienced a sudden downdraft. The airplane struck trees and came to rest short of the runway threshold. The pilot stated he did not experience any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions. Winds reported at an airport about 12 miles east of the accident site were from 300 degrees at 19 knots, with 31 knot gusts.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate altitude/clearance. A factor in this accident was gusty wind conditions.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/23/2002
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1240
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Stow
Event State MASSACHUSETTS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 01775
Event Date Year 2002
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 422737N
Event Location Longitude 0713104W
Event Location Airport MINUTE MAN AIR FIELD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 6B6
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 268
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1256 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 90
Weather Observation Facility ID BED
Elevation of weather observation facility 133
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 12
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 3700
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 4
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 300
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 19
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 31
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.45
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 13425
NTSB Notification Source FAA NEROC
NTSB Notification Date Nov 26 2002 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1100
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record May 13 2003 12:26PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Boston

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1152F
NTSB Number NYC03LA025
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 172G
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 17254747
Certified Max Gross Weight 2300
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Sep 6 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 15
Airframe Hours 7129
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name John F. Critchley
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Maynard
Aircraft Owner State MA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 01754
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 FIT
Departure City FITCHBURG
Departure State MA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1209
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code 6B6
Destination City Stow
Destination State MA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Mar 28 2003 10:06AM
User who most recently changed record PEAR
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 30
Runway Length 1600
Runway Width 70
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --