- Date
- June 20, 1998, 08:45 local (12:45 UTC)
- Place
- Milford, NY
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N7437ACessna 172R
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 15, 2001
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19980620014459A
- Case key
- 39574
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
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.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
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 initial climb, the pilot felt he could not clear electrical wires, so he dove 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.
Factual narrative
On June 20, 1998, about 0845 Eastern Daylight Time, a Cessna 172R, N7437A, received substantial damage during takeoff from a private strip near Milford, New York. The certificated private pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
According to the pilot, he intended to fly from Luther Airport (NY09), Chittenango, New York, to Cooperstown-Westville Airport (NY54), Cooperstown, New York. He diverted to the private grass strip due to fog at Cooperstown. The pilot stated that during the subsequent takeoff, the airplane encountered a soft spot in the runway too late to abort the takeoff. He felt the airplane would not clear electrical wires at the departure end of the strip, so he decided to go under the wires. In the process, the airplane hit an apple tree before landing in a soggy field.
According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector, the pilot stated that he took off from the grass strip about 60 miles per hour, and that he did not hear the stall warning horn during the takeoff and climb.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7437A
- Reported as
- Cessna 172R
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 29537
- Airframe hours
- 2,016
- Engine
- Continental O-300B, 145 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Leigh H. Havener
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 4, 1997 · 100 hours before
- Departed
- NY09 · Chittenango, NY
- Destination
- NY54 · Cooperstown, NY
- Airport
- NONE · Unnamed, runway 36, 1,300 × 70 ft, grass/turf
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 54
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 802 total · 282 in this make and model · 755 as pilot in command · 35 in the last 90 days · 6 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 360° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 64 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.