Hudson, N. H. – October 18, 1983

Hudson, New Hampshire – October 18, 1983

     On the morning of October 18, 1983, a Bell Jet Ranger helicopter, (Reg. No. N5011N), with a lone pilot aboard, took off from Boston bound for Manchester Airport in New Hampshire.  The helicopter belonged to a Boston news station, and the purpose of the trip was to retrieve video tapes of the funeral of a U. S. Marine from Nashua, New Hampshire, who’d been killed in Lebanon.   

     As the helicopter was passing over the town of Hudson, New Hampshire, it developed engine trouble and the pilot radioed a distress call to the Manchester control tower.  He then made an emergency crash-landing in the parking lot of an apartment complex.  When the aircraft hit the parking lot, it skidded for 120 feet before colliding with a dumpster and bursting into flame.  The pilot did not survive. 

      Investigation revealed that an engine turbine blade had failed during flight. 

     Sources:

     UPI article, “A Boston Television Station Helicopter Crashed And Burned Today”, October 18, 1983.

     Aviation Safety Network, Wikibase #36342     

Hudson, N. H. – June 17, 1928

Hudson, New Hampshire – June 17, 1928

     At 11:18 a.m. on June 17, 1928, an American Eagle aircraft with a pilot and two passengers aboard took off from Ferryall Field in Hudson.  Just after becoming airborne, while at an altitude of approximately 75 feet, the airplane suddenly caught fire in flight.  The pilot noticed the flames and attempted to bank at which time the plane dove to the ground and exploded in an area of ploughed ground adjacent to the flying field.  

     The two passengers, a 43-year-old man, and a 22-year-old woman, perished in the blaze, but the pilot managed to escape, but was seriously burned.  He was transported to Nashua Memorial Hospital where he eventually recovered.   

     Prior to the accident the aircraft had undergone some unspecified repairs after which it was taken up for a 25 minute test flight and appeared to be working perfectly. 

     Sources:

     The Nashua Telegraph, “Mr. Theriault And Miss Thomas Are Victims When Plane Catches Fire”, June 18, 1928, pg. 1.

     The Nashua Telegraph, “Accident Unavoidable Chief Finds”, June 18, 1928, pg 1.

     The Nashua Telegraph, “Pilot’s Own Story Of Accident”, June 18, 1928, pg. 1.  

Hudson, N. H. – September 28, 1946

Hudson, New Hampshire – September 28, 1946

     On the afternoon of September 28, 1946, a pilot and his student took off from Nashua in a “Aeronca light plane” for an instructional flight.  At 4 p.m. while practicing simulated forced landings over the neighboring town of Hudson, the aircraft was caught in a sudden down-draft and crashed into a tall pine tree.  The impact shattered the right wing, before the plane hit the ground and broke the tail.   The aircraft was a total wreck, but miraculously neither man aboard was hurt.  

     The crash occurred on the Groves Farm on Lowell Road.  

     Source: The Nashua Telegraph, “Nashua Fliers Unhurt In Hudson Plane Crash”, September 30, 1946. (With Photo)

Return to Top ▲Return to Top ▲