No fatalities

21 Jul 2012: PIPER PA-20 — Vincent Dellechaie — Cooperstown, NY

Cooperstown, NY, United States

On 21 Jul 2012, a PIPER PA-20 operated by Vincent Dellechaie was involved in an aviation accident near Cooperstown, NY. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's inadequate compensation for crosswind conditions during takeoff, which resulted in a loss of directional control. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

A pilot reported a crosswind gust after liftoff, causing the airplane to veer right into a cornfield, resulting in a nose-over and substantial damage. No mechanical anomalies were noted.

Incident Details

According to the pilot, before beginning the takeoff, he observed that two windsocks positioned along the runway indicated the presence of a crosswind. Shortly after becoming airborne, the pilot experienced a gust of wind originating from the left side. This gust pushed the airplane to the right, directing it toward a cornfield adjacent to the runway.

Aircraft Damage

The right wingtip struck cornstalks, causing the airplane to pitch forward and come to rest inverted in the field. The accident resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings.

Pilot Report

The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane that would have prevented normal operation.

Contributing factors

Causes

Directional control — Not attained/maintainedPilot

Other contributing factors

Response/compensation