NYC87LA056

1986-12-26 · LEOMINSTER, Massachusetts, United States · Serious · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport FIT

Aircraft involved

N8720C Piper PA-28-181 Serious

Factual narrative

THE PIPER PA-28-181 DEPARTED ON A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT WITH FULL TANKS (48 GAL) ACCORDING TO THE PILOT. ENROUTE THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A POWER LOSS AT NIGHT AFTER FLYING FOR 3.9 HOURS. THE PILOT LANDED IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA AND STRUCK A HOUSE ON LANDING ROLL. THE PILOT RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES WHILE THE PASSENGER RECEIVED SERIOUS INJURIES. THE AIRCRAFT RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. AN OCCUPANT IN THE HOUSE ALSO RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE AIRCRAFT'S FUEL TANKS WERE EMPTY AND THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL LEAKAGE. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1986_NYC87LA056.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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