# Accident 19810503021569A: Piper PA28140, Northampton, MA, May 3, 1981

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 3, 1981, 10:30 local time
- Place: Northampton, MA
- Airport: Lafleur
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
- Operating rules: Pilot school (Part 141)
- Location: 42.3251° N, 72.6412° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Northampton, MA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.3251&lon=-72.6412&mi=10
- Aircraft: N56694, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N56694) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-140 (registry code 7102802, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA28140
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 22 total, 21 in this make and model, 21 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC81FNE18](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC81FNE18) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810503021569A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

STUDENT PILOT LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND CRASHED DURING LANDING.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB NYC81FNE18](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC81FNE18), May 3, 1981: Piper PA-28 (N56694), Northampton, MA, substantial damage

## Other reports on N56694 (4)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 20250831018559I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250831018559I), Aug 31, 2025: Piper PA-28-140 (N56694), Palm Coast, FL, No damage. Pilot's statement: On approach to runway 29 at kfin standard crosswind technique was applied and touchdown on main wheels was accomplished in a smooth fashion…
- [Incident 20090124002639I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090124002639I), Jan 24, 2009: Piper PA28140 (N56694), Iola, KS, Minor damage. (-23) While practicing soft field landings the aircraft veered to the right after touchdown and after rotating approximately 150 degrees to the right left the…
- [Incident 19790909048799I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790909048799I), Sep 9, 1979: Piper PA28140 (N56694), Glen Falls, NY, Minor damage. Student pilot failed to maintain adequate airspeed during landing, stalled, and landed hard.
- [Accident 19780920031202A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780920031202A), Sep 20, 1978: Piper PA28140 (N56694), Northampton, MA, Substantial damage. Broke glide ovr rwy numbers. Ctctd otr acft below this one.N9011C tantial dmg.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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