No fatalities

Mail Flight Crashes After In-Flight Engine Failure Near Boston (NC831E)

Woburn, United States of AmericaFlight

On December 10, 1929, a De Havilland DH.60 Moth (registration NC831E) operated by Skyways - USA was involved in an aviation accident near Woburn, United States of America in flight. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Engine failure in flight. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 2 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-08-04Data APIEditorial standards

A single-engine aircraft crashed into a pasture near Boston after an engine failure forced an emergency landing attempt. The pilot, the sole occupant, sustained injuries.

What happened

The incident involved a mail flight that had departed from Boston. During the en route phase of the journey, the aircraft experienced a total loss of power due to an engine malfunction. This critical failure necessitated an immediate emergency landing procedure.

As the pilot approached the ground for the forced landing, the airframe lost forward speed and altitude prematurely. The aircraft entered a stall during the final approach segment, resulting in a crash into a nearby pasture. The pilot was the only person on board at the time of the accident and sustained injuries as a result of the impact.

Findings

The official investigation identified the primary factor leading to the accident. The engine failure in flight was determined to be the direct cause of the event, which subsequently led to the loss of control and the subsequent crash.

Probable cause

Engine failure in flight