# Accident 20020504007449A: Piper PA18150, Middleville, NY, May 4, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 4, 2002, 18:00 local time
- Place: Middleville, NY
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 43.1625° N, 74.9508° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.1625&lon=-74.9508&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4151F, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4151F) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-18-150 (registry code 7101828, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA18150
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC02LA094](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC02LA094) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020504007449A

## Narrative

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

(-23) OWNER AND PIC OF THE AIRCRAFT, THEODORE SMITH, TOOK OFF FROM HIS GRASS STRIP IN MIDDLEVILLE, NY. THE RUNWAY RUNS SE TO NW, 330 DEGREES, IT IS APPROXIMATELY 1900 FEET LONG AND 75-100 FEET WIDE. SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF THE AIRCRAFT DRIFTED TO THE RIGHT. PILOT APPLIED CONTROL INPUTS TO CORRECT BUT WAS UNABLE TO ALIGN THE AIRCRAFT BACK OVER THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT ELECTED TO LAND RIGHT OF THE RUNWAW TO AVOID IMPACTING TREES. THE AIRCRAFT CONTACTED THE GROUND APPROXIMATELY 400 FEET FROM LIFT OFF POINT, RIGHT OF THE RUNWAY.THE AIRCRAFT FLIPPED OVER INVERTED AFTER CONTACTING A DIRT BERM AND TREE. PILOT AND PASSENGER, WEARING HARNESS TYPE SEAT BELT SYSTEM, DID NOT SUSTAIN INJURY.

## 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 NYC02LA094](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC02LA094), May 4, 2002: Piper PA-18-150 (N4151F), Middleville, NY, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain proper alignment with the runway after being struck by a gust of wind. Factors were the gusty winds and the berm struck by the airplane.

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.

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