Piper PA-32RT-301T N3017P
6 December 1992 · Jaffrey, New Hampshire, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 6 December 1992 at about 17:45 local time, a Piper PA-32RT-301T registered N3017P, operated by Carl T. Matuszko, was involved in an accident near Jaffrey, New Hampshire, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 17:45
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Jaffrey, New Hampshire, United States
- Nearest airport
- Jaffrey Municipal (AFN)
- Coordinates
- Not recorded
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32RT-301T
- Registration
- N3017P
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Carl T. Matuszko
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Unknown → Northampton
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Dawn
- NTSB number
- NYC93LA036
People
2 people had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
Probable cause
AN IMPROPER WELD BY OTHER MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL WHICH RESULTED IN THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSING, AND A LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL ON TAKEOFF.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, THE AIRPLANE SWERVED UNCONTROLLABLY TO THE LEFT, DEPARTED THE RUNWAY AND WENT DOWN AN EMBANKMENT. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION DISCLOSED A FRACTURE OF THE NOSE LANDING GEAR STRUT WHERE IT ATTACHES TO THE ENGINE MOUNT. THE NOSE LANDING GEAR PARTIALLY COLLAPSED AND DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS NOT POSSIBLE. THE FRACTURE AREA HAD BEEN WELDED AS PART OF REPAIR TO THE ENGINE MOUNT DURING AN ANNUAL INSPECTION. ACCORDING TO A NTSB METALLURGICAL REPORT ABOUT THE WELD, '...EXAMINATION OF THE FRACTURE REVEALED NUMEROUS WELD DEFECTS SUCH AS POOR FUSION, EXCESSIVE POROSITY AND VOIDS....' IN ADDITION, THE METAL IN THE WELD AREA WAS FOUND TO BE SIGNIFICANTLY SOFTER THAN THE SURROUNDING METAL.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Piper PA-32RT accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Sep 1992 | Piper PA-32RT-300T | Pullman, Michigan, United States | Weber, Tracy T. | Fatal | 1 |
| 26 Apr 1992 | Piper PA-32RT-300 | Vallejo, California, United States | Siebert, Edward G. | Minor injuries | - |
| 30 Jun 1992 | Piper PA-32RT-300 | Leadville, Colorado, United States | Strub, Richard D. | Minor injuries | - |
| 20 Nov 1992 | Piper PA-32RT-300T | Kersey, Colorado, United States | Kevin K. OPP | Fatal | 2 |
| 9 Jun 1992 | Piper PA-32RT-300T | Chino, California, United States | Raymond T. Troll | No injuries | - |
| 8 Sep 1992 | Piper PA-32RT-300T | Baker, California, United States | Reuling-Hardy, Nancy | Minor injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Oct 1992 | Lake LA-250 | Franklin, New Hampshire, United States | Lake Aircraft, Inc. | Fatal | 1 |
| 5 Oct 1992 | Cessna 152 II | Milford, New Hampshire, United States | Daniel Webster College | No injuries | - |
| 9 Jul 1992 | Mitsubishi MU-2B-40 | Concord, New Hampshire, United States | Richard R. Hough | Fatal | 2 |
| 13 Dec 1992 | Cessna T210 | Londonderry, New Hampshire, United States | P-Q Controls, Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 12 Jul 1992 | Piper PA28-161 | Brentwood, New Hampshire, United States | Apollo Flying Club | Serious injuries | - |
| 22 Jul 1992 | Cessna 152 | Belmont, New Hampshire, United States | Sanford Air Incorporated | Minor injuries | - |