# Accident 20250226002119A: Piper PA-28-235, Manchester, VT, February 26, 2025

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 26, 2025, 08:28 local time
- Place: Manchester, VT
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 43.1695° N, 73.1064° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.1695&lon=-73.1064&mi=10
- Aircraft: N43DN, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N43DN) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-235 (registry code 7102810, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-235) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-540 series (registry code 41532, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-235
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-540 SERIES
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 3
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 377 total, 64 in this make and model, 5 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA25LA130](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA130) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250226002119A

## Narrative

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

ON 2/26/2025 A PIPER PA28 SINGLE ENGINE AIRPLANE WAS DESTROYED AFTER IMPACTING TERRAIN IN THE AREA OF MANCHESTER, VT. THE PILOT SUSTAINED A SERIOUS INJURY AND THE TWO PASSENGERS SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED HEAVILY WOODED TERRAIN ON THE SIDE OF A MOUNTAIN AND CAME TO REST IN ABOUT 4 FEET OF SNOW.

BOTH WINGS WERE SHEARED OFF OF THE AIRPLANE. THE FUSELAGE WAS PARTIALLY BURIED IN THE SNOW AND THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND PROPELLER WERE NOT ABLE TO BE REACHED AFTER REMOVING THREE FEET OF SNOW. DUE TO THE DIFFICULT TERRAIN AND CONDITIONS, THE RESPONDING INSPECTORS WERE NOT ABLE TO LOCATE ALL OF THE AIRPLANE PIECES. ADDITIONALLY, BETWEEN THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT AND THE INSPECTORS ARRIVING ON SCENE, ABOUT ANOTHER 5-6 INCHES OF FRESH SNOW FELL.

THE FLIGHT WAS OPERATED UNDER PART 91 AS A PERSONAL FLIGHT. THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED BALTIMORE MD (KMTN) AT ABOUT 0605 HOURS AND WAS DESTINED FOR RUTLAND VT (KRUT). NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED FOR THE FLIGHT AND NO WEATHER BRIEFING WAS OBTAINED. THE PIC HOLDS A PRIVATE PILOT CERTIFICATE WITH SINGLE ENGINE LAND RATING. THE PIC DID NOT HOLD AN INSTRUMENT RATING. THE PA28 AIRPLANE WAS IFR CERTIFICATED BUT DID NOT POSSESS AN ANTI-ICE OR DE-ICE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF CARBURETOR HEAT AND PITOT HEAT.

WEATHER AT THE DESTINATION ABOUT 22 MILE NORTHEAST WAS 10 MILES VISIBILITY, BROKEN CLOUDS AT 2,000 FEET WITH LIGHT WINDS. THE NEAREST WEATHER WAS 17 MILES SOUTHWEST AND WAS 8 MILES VISIBILITY, BROKEN AT 1,100 FEET WITH LIGHT WINDS.

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE CONTINUED FLIGHT INTO DETERIORATING WEATHER AND ATTEMPTED TO CLIMB THROUGH THE CLOUD LAYER TO GET ABOVE IT. AFTER ENTERING THE CLOUDS THE PILOT REPORTED RAPID ICE ACCUMULATION FOLLOWED BY MULTIPLE STALLS AND EVENTUAL FLIGHT INTO TERRAIN DURING A STALL.

## 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 ERA25LA130](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA130), Feb 26, 2025: Piper PA-28-235 (N43DN), Manchester, VT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s improper decision to continue the visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in the accumulation of airframe icing and a subsequent aerodynamic…

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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