Piper PA28-180 accident near Taberg, New York, August 2, 2000
On August 2, 2000 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Piper PA28-180, registered N132SF, was substantially damaged in an accident near Taberg, New York (Private airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper decision to attempt a second takeoff from the short grass runway at maximum gross weight, which resulted in the inadvertent stall/mush. Factors in this accident were the airplane's high gross weight and the short grass surface runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 2, 2000 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Taberg, New York · Private · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA28-180 · all PA28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N132SF · registry record · serial 282631
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During a cross county flight with three passengers, the airplane's upper door latch opened and the pilot intended to perform a precautionary landing a nearby airport to secure the door. The pilot landed on a 1,500-foot long private grass strip, secured the door attempted to depart the grass strip to the east. The pilot aborted his first attempt to takeoff, because the airplane was unable to takeoff within a 'reasonable' distance of the end of the runway. During the second attempt, the airplane became airborne about 500 feet before the end of the runway, and the pilot lowered the airplane's nose 'to accelerate while remaining in ground effect.' Near the end of the runway, the pilot pitched the airplane up; however, the airplane began to descend towards a cornfield and impacted terrain. The pilot did not report any mechanical problems with the airplane. According to the pilot 'the airplane was near gross weight, but definitely under gross weight.' He also stated 'once on the ground I should have off loaded all passengers luggage and perhaps some fuel before taking off.' Using the temperature, dew point, and altimeter setting, reported at a nearby airport, the estimated density altitude at the accident site was calculated to be about 2,188 feet. Review of the takeoff distance chart located in the airplane owner's manual, revealed a takeoff distance of 900 feet from a 'paved, level, dry, runway.' The chart did not include takeoff distances for takeoffs from grass surfaces.
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: 288 hours in all; 255 in this make and model; 92 in the last 90 days; 33 in the last 30 days; 104 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,025 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 26, 1999; 177 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE NY at 4:45 pm
- Destination: ALB Albany NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 1,500 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,900 ft; scat at 2,700 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:52 pm from UCA, 14 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number NYC00LA215.