North Andover, MA. – May 6, 1984

North Andover, Massachusetts – May 6, 1984

     On the evening of May 6, 1984, a pilot, and owner of a single-engine Piper Cherokee, was at Lawrence Municipal Airport in North Andover, preparing to take photographs of his aircraft.   While turning the propeller the engine suddenly started, and the plane began taxiing down the runway without him.   The plane ran for several hundred yards before striking a piece of pavement and becoming airborne.  The pilotless plane flew over a fence and went on to crash into a building housing a sun tanning business and auto body shop where it exploded into flames.  (Neither business was occupied at the time.)

     Three firemen were injured battling the two-alarm fire. 

     Source:

     Providence Evening Bulletin, “Pilotless Plane Takes Off, Hits Auto Body Shop; 3 Injured In fire.”, May 7, 1984, page A-4    

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