Four Injured in Small Plane Crash on Takeoff at Norwood Airport-October 21, 1974

Crash on Takeoff at Norwood Airport

A small single-engine Cessna aircraft piloted by an off-duty state police helicopter pilot crashed shortly before 10 a.m. yesterday while taking off from Norwood Airport, injuring all four occupants on board.

The pilot, Donald Cody, 30, of 37 Elm St., Foxboro, was flying his two sons and a family friend back to Taunton after a weekend visit when the accident occurred. According to Nelson Stevens of Natick, an eyewitness who spoke with police, the plane took off before the engine suddenly sputtered and died, causing the aircraft to plunge into a grassy strip off the end of the runway. The violent impact completely destroyed the small plane, shearing off the propeller and one wing while nearly tearing the fuselage in half.

Hospitalized Victims and Ongoing Investigation-October 21, 1974

All four crash victims were rushed immediately to Norwood Hospital. Those hospitalized included:

• Donald Cody: The pilot, who suffered a compound fracture of his left ankle alongside numerous scrapes and bruises, was listed in improved condition.
• Michael Cody: His 11-year-old son, treated for back injuries, was reported in fairly good condition.
• Patricia Fleury: 23, of West Roxbury, who sustained head and neck lacerations and a concussion, was also listed in improved condition.

The pilot’s other son, 9-year-old James Cody, escaped with minor injuries—treating for a black eye—and was released from the hospital later that day. The crash remains under active investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Routine Weekend Visit Turned Perilous-October 21, 1974

State police spokesmen confirmed that while Donald Cody primarily piloted helicopters for the state police, he also held a valid commercial pilot’s license. The single-engine Cessna involved in the crash was jointly owned by Cody and another state trooper.

The children’s mother, Roberta Cody—who was waiting at the Taunton Airport to greet them—recalled receiving a call from her ex-husband at Norwood Airport around 9:40 a.m. informing her that he would touch down in Taunton by 10 a.m. The quick flight from Norwood to Taunton typically took just 15 minutes.

“The kids have been brought up in airplanes and it’s kind of a treat for them to fly,” Mrs. Cody noted, explaining that it was customary for her ex-husband to fly the boys back to Taunton following their weekend visits in Foxboro.

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger