Probable cause
The pilot’s delayed decision to abort the landing, which resulted in a collision with trees.
NTSB analysis
The pilot reported that the airplane approached fast and bounced twice on the 3,110-ft-long runway. After the second bounce, he attempted to abort the landing, but trees at the end of the runway were already too close to clear. He turned right to avoid the trees, but then turned left to avoid a house, and collided with the trees. The airplane was substantially damaged during the accident and all three occupants of the airplane were seriously injured. Postaccident examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector did not reveal evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation, nor did the pilot report any.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA23LA304 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Jul 23, 2023
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Stow, Massachusetts
- Nearest airport
- Minute Man Air Field (6B6)
- Highest injury
- Serious
- Serious injuries
- 3
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cessna 182
- N-number
- N7ET
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1965
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.