# NTSB NYC95LA029: Piper PA-18-150, N14315, Stow, MA, November 18, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 18, 1994, 18:20 local (23:20 UTC) - Place: Stow, MA - Location: 42.4370° N, 71.5056° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Stow, MA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4370&lon=-71.5056&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report September 24, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38902 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC95LA029 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38902/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC95LA029 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain adequate terrain clearance, which resulted in an inflight collision with trees. Other related factors were: heavy rain, moderate turbulence, dark night, and high winds. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, circling (ifr) - weather condition - turbulence (contributing factor) - weather condition - rain (contributing factor) - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor) - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) - airport facilities,runway end ident lights(reil) - not available on selected runway - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - object - tree(s) ## Analysis THE PILOT WAS VECTORED FOR AN NIGHT NDB CIRCLING APPROACH. HE REPORTED THE WEATHER AS 900 FEET OVERCAST, HEAVY RAIN, MODERATE TURBULENCE AND CROSSWINDS GUSTING TO 20 KNOTS. HE SAW THE RUNWAY, CANCELLED THE IFR CLEARANCE AND INITIATED THE CIRCLING APPROACH. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED TREES 1/2 MILE FROM THE RUNWAY. THE RUNWAY DID NOT HAVE RUNWAY END IDENTIFICATION LIGHTS OR A VASI. ## Factual narrative On Friday, November 18, 1994, at 1820 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28-150, N14315, registered to and piloted by Patrick J. Greene, struck trees while maneuvering to land at the Minute Man Airfield, Stow, Massachusetts. The airplane was substantially damaged, and the pilot and one passenger received serious injuries. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed, and an IFR flight plan had been filed. The flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated in Skaneateles, New York. While en route to Stow, the pilot filed an instrument flight plan due to deteriorating weather. The pilot was cleared for a non-precision, NDB circling approach to the Minute Man Airfield. During the approach, he called the field in sight and cancelled his IFR flight plan. While maneuvering to land on runway 03, the airplane struck trees approximately 1/2 mile from the airport. The reported weather, at 1845, from Bedford, Massachusetts, located about 9 miles east of the accident site, was: ceiling, indefinite, 400 feet obscured; visibility 1 mile, with light rain and fog, temperature 45 degrees F, dew point 45 degrees F, wind 040 degrees at 5 knots. The pilot reported it was a dark night, with heavy rain, moderate turbulence and a crosswind 40 degrees from the runway heading, at 15 gusting to 20 knots. The runway was not equipped with runway end identification lights or a Visual Approach Slope Indicator (VASI). ## Aircraft - Registration: [N14315](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N14315), registered now, S/N 18-7609012, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18-150 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (registry code 7101828) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-7609012 - Airframe hours: 2600 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A2A 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Patrick J. Greene - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: 6B9, SKANEATELES, NY - Destination: 6B6 - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: 6B6, Minute Man Airfield, runway 3, 2,743 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 4,416 total, 2,200 in this make and model, 4,270 as pilot in command, 24 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark - Wind: 70° at 15 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 2.5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 900 ft overcast - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19941118038579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19941118038579A), Nov 18, 1994: Piper PA18150, Stow, MA, Destroyed. Broke out on approach. Saw runway. Struck trees circling to land. Dark night heavy rain and gusty wind factors. ## Other investigations on N14315 (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 NYC85LA045](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC85LA045), Dec 18, 1984: Piper PA-18-150 (N14315), Stow, MA, substantial damage 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.