Mansfield, MA. – October 30, 1986

May 13, 2019

Mansfield, Massachusetts – October 30, 1986     

     On October 30, 1986, a student pilot with his instructor were at the controls of a single-engine Cessna 152 making practice runs over the Mansfield Airport.  The student was wearing a special hood that only allowed him to see his instrument panel as he received training in instrument flying. 

     Meanwhile, a twin-engine Piper Navajo with three people aboard was passing through the area on its way from Providence to Boston’s Logan Airport.   Both aircraft collided in mid-air 2,500 feet over the airport    

     A portion of the Piper’s tail section penetrated the cockpit of the Cessna and broke off, and the instructor suffered a broken leg when it did so.  Additionally, one of the landing gear struts was also torn away by the impact.  Despite his injury, the instructor took control of the aircraft and made an emergency crash-landing at Mansfield airport.  The instructor was transported to a hospital for treatment.

     Meanwhile the Piper flew to Norwood Airport where it too made an emergency landing.  There were no reported injuries aboard the Piper.

     Sources:

     The Sun, (Lowell, Mass.), “One Person Hurt When Two Small Planes Collide”, October 31, 1986

     Providence Journal Bulletin, “Student Pilot Wearing Special Hood When Planes Collide In Mansfield”, November 1, 1986  

Filed Under: Massachusetts - Civil Tagged With: , , , ,

Templeton, MA. – January 11, 1979

September 22, 2018

Templeton, Massachusetts – January 11, 1979

     On January 11, 1979, a Piper PA-31, (#N33TN), with three people aboard, left Concord Municipal Airport in Concord, Mass., bound for Westchester County, New York.  Meanwhile, an Aerostar 600 corporate jet, (#N80225), with a pilot and one passenger aboard, was passing over Massachusetts bound for Syracuse, New York.  Despite what an investigator for the Massachusetts Aeronautics Commission described as “super clear” weather, the two aircraft were involved in a mid-air collision over the town of Templeton.  

     One plane crashed into a wooded hillside about a half-mile from Gardner Airport.  The other went down in a frozen swamp.  All person’s aboard both aircraft perished.

     Investigators speculated that despite the clear weather, the pilots of both aircraft had failed to see each other.      

     Sources:

     Providence Evening Bulletin, “Weather Clear At Time Of Crash”, January 11, 1979, Page A-8

     Providence Journal Bulletin, “Try Made To Recover Crashed Plane”, January 13, 1979, Page 3

     Aviation Safety Network, Wikibase #3147, and #13600

Filed Under: Massachusetts - Civil Tagged With: , ,

Mashpee, MA – August 28, 1927

July 23, 2015

     Mashpee, Massachusetts – August 28, 1927 

 

     On August 28, 1927, Henry J. Larkin, 23, of Brookline, Massachusetts, was flying his Curtis Seaplane (No. 2918) eastward along the coast of the towns of Falmouth and Mashpee when he encountered a fog bank and was forced to turn back.  It was then that he happened to meet up with another seaplane being piloted by Harold G. Crowley, 33, of Winthrop, Mass. going in the same direction.  The two men knew each other, and Larkin fell in with Crowley’s plane as they made their way westward along the coast.  As they neared Succannesset Point close to the Falmouth/Mashpee town lines, a sudden wind gust pushed Larkin’s plane into Crowley’s.  The impact sent Larkin down in a spinning dive into the water.  Crowley was able to land safely on the water. 

     It was later determined that Larkin came down in Mashpee waters.

     Larkin received internal injuries and a compound fracture to his nose, and was admitted to Hyannis Hospital for treatment.  

     Falmouth Enterprise, “Seaplanes Collide Over Sound”, September 1, 1927

     Update: May 16, 2018

     Harold Crowley’s aircraft was known as “Barbara” and had a red/green cockpit with aluminum painted wings.

     Henry Larkin’s aircraft was known as “The Seagull”. 

     Source: Vineyard Gazette, (Martha’s Vineyard, Mass.), “Airplanes Collide, Pilot Is Injured”, September 2, 1927.

 

    

Filed Under: Massachusetts - Civil Tagged With: , , , , , , ,
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