# Accident 19980620014459A: Cessna 172, Milford, NY, June 20, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 20, 1998, 08:45 local time
- Place: Milford, NY
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 42.5893° N, 74.9394° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.5893&lon=-74.9394&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7437A (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Reported engine: CONT O300B
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 802 total, 282 in this make and model, 35 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC98LA130](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC98LA130) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980620014459A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(.4) THE PILOT DIVERTED TO A PRIVATE GRASS STRIP TO WAIT FOR FOG TO CLEAR AT HIS INTENDED DESTINATION. DURING THE SUBSEQUENT TAKEOFF ROLL, THE PILOT FELT THE AIRPLANE HIT A SOFT SPOT, AND HE BELIEVED HE WAS TOO CLOSE TO THE END OF THE RUNWAY TO ABORT. DURING THE INITITAL CLIMB, THE PILOT FELT HE COULD NOT CLEAR ELECTRICAL WIRES, SO HE DROVE UNDER THEM. IN THE PROCESS, HE STRUCK A TREE AND CRASH LANDED IN A FIELD. THE PILOT DID NOT HEAR A STALL WARNING HORN DURING THE TAKEOFF AND CLIMB. (-23) PILOT AND PASSENGER WERE DEPARTING TO THE NORTH ON A WET, GRASS FIELD, 1300 FEET IN LENGTH. PILOT REPORTED AIRPLANE BECAME AIRBORNE, WAS AT 15 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, AIRSPEED OF 60 KNOTS. PILOT THEN REDUCED THE NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE OF THE AIRCRAFT AND OBSERVED ELECTRIC POWER LINES AT END OF THE RUNWAY. PILOT ATTEMPTED TO FLY UNDER THE WIRES, STRIKING TREES. AIRCRAFT RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AND NO INJURIES OCCURRED TO THE PILOT OR THE ONE PASSENGER.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB NYC98LA130](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC98LA130), Jun 20, 1998: Cessna 172R (N7437A), Milford, NY, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's decision to intentionally fly below wires, which resulted in the collision with trees. A factor in the accident was the soft grass airstrip.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.