19961013031989A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Piper J3C-65 · Springfield, OH · October 13, 1996

Date: October 13, 1996 · 12:20 local
Place: Springfield, OH
Phase of flight: Go Round (Aborted VFR)
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N42719
NTSB investigation: NTSBIAD97LA006
Reported as: Piper J3C65
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 1
Pilot’s flight hours: 13,000 total300 in this make and model50 in the last 90 days

N42719Registered now · Piper J3C-65S/N 15017 · Built 1945 Airframe modelPiper J3C-65 Engine modelContinental A&C65 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Clipped a tree on climbout from a downwind pass over runway. Stalled. Rolled to right and impacted ground. (-23) during downwind low pass, witness reported a/c brushed top of tree at the end of the runway. Aircraft was reported to wingwalk (wobble) about 1 to 1 1/2 feet. Aircraft struck limb of tree pulling a/c into tree. Limbs broke and aircraft spiraled into the ground. The aircraft struck the tree at an estimated 100-150 feet above the ground. The engine was reported to be running when the aircraft struck the ground.

As the FAA filed it

CLIPPED A TREE ON CLIMBOUT FROM A DOWNWIND PASS OVER RUNWAY. STALLED. ROLLED TO RIGHT AND IMPACTED GROUND. (-23) DURING DOWNWIND LOW PASS, WITNESS REPORTED A/C BRUSHED TOP OF TREE AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY. AIRCRAFT WAS REPORTED TO WINGWALK (WOBBLE) ABOUT 1 TO 1 1/2 FEET. AIRCRAFT STRUCK LIMB OF TREE PULLING A/C INTO TREE. LIMBS BROKE AND AIRCRAFT SPIRALED INTO THE GROUND. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE TREE AT AN ESTIMATED 100-150 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND. THE ENGINE WAS REPORTED TO BE RUNNING WHEN THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE GROUND.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB IAD97LA006Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportSpringfield, OHfailure of the pilot to maintain obstacle clearance, while maneuvering at low altitudes. A related factor was the quartering tail wind.Oct 13, 1996 · Substantial damage