PA-28 down in Ludlow, MA 9/5/26 fatal x2

[Charlie Golf]

Enroute from 7B2 to KPYM.

Two people have tragically died following a small plane crash in Ludlow, Massachusetts, late Saturday night.
Piper PA-28-181 (N7653F)
Northampton Airport (7B2) to Plymouth Municipal Airport (KPYM)
Location: Wooded area off Center Street
First responders began searching the Ludlow area on Saturday evening after receiving reports of a missing aircraft. Following a search of the vicinity, emergency crews located the wreckage of the Piper PA-28 in a densely wooded section off Center Street. Tragically, both individuals on board were found dead at the scene.

https://www.westernmassnews.com/2026/09/06/two-people-dead-after-plane-crash-ludlow/

https://www.facebook.com/aviation24...e-tragically-died-following/1553664663468268/

 

[midlifeflyer]

RIP. Apparently a flight school airplane out of Plymouth.

I know the area. I learned to fly at 7B2.

 

[frfly172]

Sad condolences

 

[Kyle N]

Flight path at the end is a little confusing. It almost looks like they attempted a turn to Westover (CEF) but dropped VERY fast. Looks like they were on an IFR flight path.

 

[Kyle N]

Just listened to liveATC (KDBL Approach - Bristol Radar):
- Pilot initially calls in just southeast of 7B2. Pilot IMO sounds a little behind the airplane/overloaded right off the bat. Possibly a student?
- About 2 minutes before the accident KBDL departure gave N7653F a warning about light precipitation at 11-12 oclock in 7miles moving SSE (same direction as 53F). Pilot quickly says "Rog-Roger thank you" but still sounds overloaded to me.
- 1 minute later KBDL queries 53F about a sudden 90* left turn and asks if everything is alright. Pilot very quickly says "everything is fine, I'm turning back on course thank you!". Again pilot sounding overloaded, somewhat frazzled to me.
- 15 seconds later more queries from KBDL about sudden turns and rapid descent, followed by low altitude alert. No response from pilot.
- 5 seconds later KBDL asking 53F to ident....

Sure sounds like the textbook example of communication during a spatial disorientation event.

Flightaware track looks like hand flying the entire time.