Piper PA-28-140 accident near Cortland, Alabama, May 11, 2004
On May 11, 2004 at about 5:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N7123R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cortland, Alabama (Industrial Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's misjudgment of distance/altitude and his failure to maintain obstacle clearance which resulted in an undershoot and collision with trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 11, 2004 · about 5:45 pm local time
- Place
- Cortland, Alabama · Industrial Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N7123R · no longer on the register · serial 28-21824
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to witnesses the airplane was flying low towards the airport when the right wing of the airplane "clipped a tree". The airplane "spun" to the right and collided with the ground. No radio transmissions were received from the pilot prior to the accident. Examination of the wreckage site revealed the airplane came to rest 600 feet from the approach end of the runway 13 on a golf course in a nose down attitude. The engine compartment of the airplane was crushed aft towards the firewall and displaced to the left. The right wing tip leading edge was crushed. The left wing assembly was buckled. Examination of the flight controls and power plant revealed no anomalies. The pilot did not report any mechanical or flight control anomalies.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,250 hours in all; 1,250 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,783 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 7, 2003; 19 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 9A4 Cortland AL at 5:00 pm
- Destination: 9A4 Cortland AL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 7 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from 9A4, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.