July 12, Carthage, N.Y. / Fairchild Cornell

At about 17:10 eastern time, a Fairchild M-62C crashed while departing a private airport in Carthage. The pilot was seriously injured and the passenger, who owned the airport, received minor injuries. The airplane took off to the west but could not climb above 50-foot trees at the departure end of the runway. The airport owner said most flights land to the west toward the trees and depart to the east, even if theres a tailwind, because there are no obstacles to clear. He said he mentioned this to the pilot, who elected to depart to the west.