# NTSB NYC04LA183: Cessna 172F, N7957U, Cooperstown, NY, August 3, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 3, 2004, 14:55 local (18:55 UTC) - Place: Cooperstown, NY - Coordinates: 42.629165, -74.89083 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.6292&lon=-74.8908&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report July 7, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 59817 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC04LA183 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59817/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC04LA183 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed and her premature rotation which resulted in an inadvertent stall/mush and subsequent impact with the ground. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - rotation - premature, pilot in command (cause) - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis During the takeoff roll, the airplane veered sharply to the left. The pilot applied right rudder to realign the airplane on the centerline, and when the airplane did not respond, she "instinctively" pulled back on the controls to lift the airplane off the runway. Because the airplane "lacked adequate airspeed," immediately after rotation, it descended, and impacted the ground. The pilot stated that the correct action, "to pull the power back" and abort the takeoff, did not occur to her until it was too late. No mechanical deficiencies were observed with the airplane. ## Factual narrative On August 3, 2004, at 1455 eastern daylight time, N7957U, a Cessna 172F, was substantially damaged when it impacted the runway, during takeoff from the Cooperstown-Westville Airport (K23), Cooperstown, New York. The certificated commercial pilot was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot, she initiated the takeoff from runway 20 (a 2,600-foot long, 125-ft. wide turf runway), and during the takeoff roll, the airplane veered sharply to the left. She applied right rudder to realign the airplane on the centerline, and when "nothing changed," she "responded instinctively" and pulled back on the controls to lift the airplane off the runway. Because the airplane "lacked adequate airspeed," immediately after rotation, it descended, and impacted the ground. The pilot additionally stated that the correct action, to "pull the power back" and abort the takeoff, did not occur to her until it was too late. Examination of the airplane by the FAA inspector revealed substantial damage to the empennage of the airplane. No mechanical deficiencies were observed. The winds reported at an airport approximately 38 miles to the northwest, at 1456, were from 260 degrees at 3 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7957U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7957U-2014-11-19), registration cancelled 2014-11-19, S/N 17251957, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172F - Registry model: [Cessna 172F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172f) (registry code 2072414) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17251957 - Engines: Continental O-300 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Norma Hutman - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: K23, Cooperstown, NY - Destination: K23 - Airport: K23, Cooperstown-Westville Airport, runway 20, 2,600 × 125 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: serious; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review June 20, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 4,000 total, 3,500 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 29.79 inHg - Observed at: UCA, 38 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20040803035649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040803035649A), Aug 3, 2004: Cessna 172F, Cooperstown, NY, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot did not adequately correct for left turning tendencies encountered during take off. Airplane veered off left side of runway. Pilot did not abort… ## Other investigations on N7957U (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 NYC70DFM14](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC70DFM14), May 29, 1970: Cessna 172 (N7957U), Stratford, CT, substantial damage 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. --- 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.