Marlboro Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Marlboro, Massachusetts 01752
Saturday, March 31, 2007 16:20 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that the Navion A encountered little turbulence or crosswind when he entered the airport traffic pattern for landing, and that there were no problems with the handling and performance of the airplane. After completing before-landing checks, and with the airplane aligned on the final leg of the approach for landing, the pilot anticipated "lifting" and "sinking" effects as the airplane crossed two rows of trees prior to the landing threshold. After crossing the first row of trees, the pilot applied power, but the sink rate was greater than he anticipated, and the airplane struck the second row of trees, then impacted the ground.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain a proper glidepath to the runway.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/31/2007
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1620
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Marlboro
Event State MASSACHUSETTS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 01752
Event Date Year 2007
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 422035N
Event Location Longitude 0713032W
Event Location Airport Marlboro Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 9B1
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 --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling --
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) --
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 21651
NTSB Notification Source FAA New England Region Com Ctr
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jun 27 2007 1:15PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\lema
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4047K
NTSB Number NYC07CA090
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion --
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Navion
Aircraft Model A
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number NAV-4-1047
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft --
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed --
ELT Activated --
ELT Aided Location of Event Site --
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name James M Grenier
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Westboro
Aircraft Owner State MA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode --
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name James Grenier
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Westboro
Operator State MA
Operator Country USA
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 --
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code ASH
Departure City NASHUA
Departure State NH
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone --
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 9B1
Destination City MARLBORO
Destination State MA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Approach - VFR pattern - final approach
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 26 2007 5:11PM
User who most recently changed record MUZD
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 32
Runway Length 1659
Runway Width 45
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --