Piper PA-32-300 accident near Leominster, MA
On June 2, 2004, a Piper PA-32-300 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Leominster, MA. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- June 2, 2004
- Place
- Leominster, MA
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-300 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 42.546°N, 71.722°W
- NTSB ID
- 20040608X00743
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On June 1, 2004, about 2131 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-32-300, N21072, was destroyed after impacting terrain in Leominster, Massachusetts, during an approach to the Fitchburg Municipal Airport (FIT), Fitchburg, Massachusetts. The certificated private pilot and passenger were fatally injured. Night instrument meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed for the flight that originated from the Manchester Airport (MHT), Manchester, New Hampshire. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the airplane was fueled earlier at FIT with 16.7 gallons of aviation fuel prior to departing for MHT to pick up the passenger. Upon arriving at MHT, the airplane was refueled with 14.1 gallons of aviation fuel. The flight departed from MHT about 2109, and proceeded towards FIT. Review of air traffic control data revealed that the pilot was instructed to "cross TOPTO at or above 2,500, cleared GPS 32 approach," which he acknowledged. No further transmissions were received from the pilot. Review of radar data obtained from the FAA revealed that the accident airplanes flight track began at 2108:50. The airplane was at an altitude of 900 feet in the vicinity of MHT. At 2129:34, the airplane crossed abeam CLETR, the final approach fix for the GPS RWY 32 approach at FIT. At that point the airplane had been tracking a northwesterly heading approximately 320 degrees. After passing CLETR, the airplane turned right, away from the final approach course,
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to follow instrument flight procedures resulting in a collision with trees. A factor related to the accident was the low cloud ceiling, and dark night.
More accidents in MA
- Gulfstream Aerospace G IV, Jun 1, 2014
- Beechcraft B200, Apr 4, 2003
- Cessna 425, Oct 25, 2006
- Piper PA-32-300, Mar 3, 2003
- Cirrus SR-22, Apr 9, 2009
Browse: Massachusetts · Piper aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
