# Accident 20120721016059A: Piper PA-20, Cooperstown, NY, July 21, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 21, 2012, 11:15 local time
- Place: Cooperstown, NY
- Airport: Cooperstown-Westville
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Rotation
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 42.6292° N, 74.8911° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.6292&lon=-74.8911&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7465K, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7465K-2021-04-03) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-20 (registry code 7102002, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-20) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-290 series (registry code 41506, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-20
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-290 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,200 total, 1,116 in this make and model, 5 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA12CA475](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA475) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120721016059A

## Narrative

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

ON 7/21/2012 AT APPROXIMATELY 11:15AM WHILE TAKING OFF RUNWAY 2 ON A NORTHERN HEADING, AT VERY LOW ALTITUDE, THE AIRCRAFT DRIFTED INTO A CORNFIELD ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE RUNWAY DEPARTURE END AND FLIPPED UPSIDE DOWN LANDING IN A SOUTHERN HEADING.  THE CORN STALKS WERE APPROXIMATELY 5-6 FEET TALL.  THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO BOTH WINGS, LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR, THE PROPELLER AND FUSELAGE.  IT WAS NOTED IN THE PILOT DEPOSITION DATED 7/21/2012 AT 12:05PM THAT WHEN THE AIRCRAFT FIRST BEGAN TO ENTER THE CORNFIELD, THE PILOT SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE BEFORE FULL CONTACT WITH THE GROUND, BEFORE IT FLIPPED OVER.  ONLY ONE OF THE TWO BLADES ON THE PROPELLER WAS BENT BACKWARD.  THE PILOT AND SINGLE PASSENGER WERE ABLE TO EXIT THE AIRCRAFT SIDE DOOR AS IT WAS OVERTURNED AND WERE UN-INJURED.  THE PILOT RECALLS EXPERIENCING NO MECHANICAL FAILURES.

## 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 ERA12CA475](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA475), Jul 21, 2012: Piper PA-20 (N7465K), Cooperstown, NY, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate compensation for crosswind conditions during takeoff, which resulted in a loss of directional control.

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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