Piper PA-20 N7465K

Summary

On 21 July 2012 at about 15:15 local time, a Piper PA-20 registered N7465K, operated by Vincent Dellechaie, was involved in an accident near Cooperstown, New York, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

21 July 2012 at 15:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Cooperstown, New York, United States

Nearest airport

Cooperstown-Westville Airport (K23)

Coordinates

42.6292, -74.8911

Aircraft

Piper PA-20

Registration

N7465K

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Vincent Dellechaie

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Cooperstown → Rome

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA12CA475

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's inadequate compensation for crosswind conditions during takeoff, which resulted in a loss of directional control.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that, before initiating the takeoff, he observed that the two windsocks located on the runway indicated a crosswind. Just after lifting off, the pilot felt a gust of wind from the left, and the airplane was pushed right toward a cornfield located next to the runway. The right wingtip impacted cornstalks, and the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted in the field, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.