Piper PA-20 accident near Cross Keys, New Jersey, April 13, 2012
On April 13, 2012 at about 6:18 pm local time, a Piper PA-20, registered N7001K, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Cross Keys, New Jersey (Cross Keys Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during landing, which resulted in the overstress and subsequent failure of the right main landing gear assembly.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 13, 2012 · about 6:18 pm local time · cases in 2012
- Place
- Cross Keys, New Jersey · Cross Keys Airport · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-20 · all PA-20s on the register
- Registration
- N7001K · registry record · serial 20-108
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, minimal wind correction was required while on the final leg of the approach. Airport surveillance camera footage indicated that the airplane landed and veered several times left and right before departing the left side of the runway, where it came to rest. Rubber tire marks were evident on the runway near the airplane’s touch down point. Farther down the runway, a single rubber tire mark and wing paint transfer were observed, beginning left of the runway centerline and continuing onto the intersecting taxiway, near where the airplane came to rest. Postaccident examination revealed that the right main landing gear failed during the landing. Although internal corrosion of the landing gear was noted, a detailed examination of the failed landing gear revealed no corrosion associated with the overstress fracture surfaces. Although major repairs were performed on the landing gear assembly about 43 years before the accident, there was no indication that those repairs contributed to the accident. Based on physical and security camera evidence, it is likely that upon landing, the pilot placed a sideload on the landing gear, tried to realign with the runway centerline, but overcorrected and subsequently lost control.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Dragged wing/rotor/float/other during landing (landing roll)
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Main gear strut/axle/truck › Capability exceeded other cases naming the landing gear
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Main landing gear › Failure other cases naming the landing gear
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 980 hours in all; 28 in this make and model; 57 in the last 90 days; 56 in the last 30 days; 862 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 31, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,491 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 26, 2012
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290-D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Jersey Devil Dusters LLC
The flight
- Departed from: N14 Medford NJ at 6:00 pm
- Destination: 17N Cross Keys NJ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 09, 3,500 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 10 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.21 inHg
- Observation at 5:54 pm from PHL, 13 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
10 documents, released by the NTSB on January 25, 2013. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record - Phone Interview with Pilot | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Materials Laboratory 15 - Factual Report 12-050 (2 Images) | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Weather | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 5 | FAA Form 337 for Landing Gear Repair - 1979 | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Airport Security Video | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Part Return Form - Materials Laboratory (1 Embedded Photo) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 8 | Photo 1: Airplane at Rest (Courtesy of the FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 9 | Photo 2: Right Main Landing Gear as Found (Courtesy of the FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 10 | Photo 3: Tire Mark on Runway (Courtesy of the FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N7001K on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Piper PA-20 Pacer 323 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Piper 44,840 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming O-290-D 46 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Cross Keys Airport · nearest airport
- Flying W Airport · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in New Jersey 1,189 since 1982 · 135 in the last ten years
- New Jersey 3,017 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ERA12LA287.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.