1994-03-16: Piper PA-32-300 — Norwood Air, Inc. — Norwood, MA

Casualties unknown • Norwood, MA, US

Probable cause

THE INADEQUATE SUPERVISION BY THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT DURING THE LANDING, RESULTING IN THE IMPROPER RUNWAY ALIGNMENT BY THE STUDENT PILOT, AND THE SUBSEQUENT COLLISION WITH A SNOWBANK. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE INCOMPLETE RUNWAY SNOW REMOVAL.

— NTSB Determination

Accident narrative

THE STUDENT PILOT AND FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR WERE LANDING AT NIGHT ON A RUNWAY WHICH WAS 150 FEET WIDE, OF WHICH 95 FEET WERE PLOWED OF SNOW. THEY HAD DEPARTED THE SAME AIRPORT EARLIER THAT DAY. THE RUNWAY LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED, BUT WERE LOCATED OUTSIDE THE SNOW COVERED PART OF THE RUNWAY. THE STUDENT ALIGNED THE AIRPLANE WITH THE SNOWED COVERED SECTION. THE INSTRUCTOR CAUTIONED THE STUDENT ABOUT THIS ALIGNMENT DURING THE APPROACH, BUT DID NOT TAKE CORRECTIVE ACTION. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE SNOWBANK, SHEARED THE LANDING GEARS AND BUCKLED THE FUSELAGE.

All Piper PA-32 accidents →

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1994-03-16 Piper PA-32-300 accident near Norwood, MA?

THE STUDENT PILOT AND FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR WERE LANDING AT NIGHT ON A RUNWAY WHICH WAS 150 FEET WIDE, OF WHICH 95 FEET WERE PLOWED OF SNOW. THEY HAD DEPARTED THE SAME AIRPORT EARLIER THAT DAY. THE RUNWAY LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED, BUT WERE LOCATED OUTSIDE THE SNOW COVERED PART OF THE RUNWAY. THE STUDENT ALIGNED THE…

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1994-03-16 involved a Piper PA-32-300, registration N7303R, operated by Norwood Air, Inc., at Norwood, MA.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

THE INADEQUATE SUPERVISION BY THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT DURING THE LANDING, RESULTING IN THE IMPROPER RUNWAY ALIGNMENT BY THE STUDENT PILOT, AND THE SUBSEQUENT COLLISION WITH A SNOWBANK. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE INCOMPLETE RUNWAY SNOW REMOVAL.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001206X00983. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.

Loading the flight search…