- Date
- November 3, 1991, 12:50 local (17:50 UTC)
- Place
- Plymouth, MA
- Injuries
- 2 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N6ANPiper L-3
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 10, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19911103048899A
- Case key
- 37043
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The improper decision by the non-instrument-rated pilot to attempt VFR flight in instrument meteorological conditions, at a low altitude, which resulted in a collision with the water. Factors related to the accident were: the overconfidence of the pilot in his ability and an airplane without proper instrumentation.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot had a history of flying at low altitude and in weather conditions even though he was not an instrument rated pilot. A witness saw the airplane flying over his boat at an altitude of 50 feet, into a fog bank. The airplane had limited flight instruments.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N6AN
- Reported as
- Piper L-3
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 10282
- Engine
- Continental A-65-8, 65 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Robert H. Russell
- Registered owner
- Robert H. Russell
- Last inspection
- Unknown · January 2, 2000
- Departed
- OWD · Norwood, MA
- Destination
- OWD
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 52
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 776 total · 350 in this make and model · 745 as pilot in command · 49 in the last 90 days · 12 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Wind
- 360° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 50 ft
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.