# Accident 20091202051939A: Piper PA-38-112, Patillas, PR, December 2, 2009

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 2, 2009, 09:05 local time
- Place: Patillas, PR
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Climb
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 17.9822° N, 66.0192° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=17.9822&lon=-66.0192&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2539K, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2539K-2017-09-14) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-38-112 (registry code 7103812, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-38-112) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-235 series (registry code 41505, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-38-112
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-235 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 400 total, 100 in this make and model, 2 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA10CA090](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10CA090) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20091202051939A

## Narrative

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

WHILE DEPARTING RUNWAY 10, VFR CONDITIONS IN A PIPER PA-38-112, SN 38-79A0677, REGISTRATION NUMBER N2539K ON OR ABOUT 0905 LOCAL, DECEMBER 2, 2009 MR. CARMELO VAZQUEZ DE JESUS (PILOT IN COMMAND) WITH ONE PASSENGER ON BOARD WAS ABOUT ¾ DOWN OF THE 2000FEET RUN WAY WITH 0' DEGREES FLAPS, EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL EXCEPT THE CLIMBING RATE. MR. VAZQUEZ LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT STRIKING THE TREES LOCATED AT THE RIGHT END OF THE RUN WAY WITH THE RIGHT WING. MINOR INJURIES REPORTED BOTH PERSONS WALKED AWAY FROM THE AIRCRAFT.

## 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 ERA10CA090](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10CA090), Dec 2, 2009: Piper PA-38-112 (N2539K), Patillas, PR, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate visual lookout and failure to maintain clearance from a tree.

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.