19970907048029A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Piper J3C-65 · Jordan, MT · September 7, 1997

Date: September 7, 1997 · 17:12 local
Place: Jordan, MT
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N98833
NTSB investigation: NTSBSEA97LA204
Reported as: Piper J3C65
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 2

N98833Registered now · Piper J3C-65S/N 19082 · Built 1946 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.

(-16) On September 7, 1997, at 1712 local time, N98833, a PA-J3-C65, owned and operated by james t. hentges departed a private farm north east of Jordan, Montana. According to numerous witnesses Mr. Hentges buzzed over a car and climbed approximately 200 feet. At this time the aircraft appeared to enter a spin and impacted the ground shortly thereafter. The aircraft was totally destroyed on impact and Mr. Hentges and his rear seat passenger were fatally injured. VFR conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. Investigation has revealed that Mr. Hentges held no pilot certificate or a valid medical certificate.

As the FAA filed it

(-16) ON SEPTEMBER 7, 1997, AT 1712 LOCAL TIME, N98833, A PA-J3-C65, OWNED AND OPERATED BY JAMES T. HENTGES DEPARTED A PRIVATE FARM NORTH EAST OF JORDAN, MONTANA. ACCORDING TO NUMEROUS WITNESSES MR. HENTGES BUZZED OVER A CAR AND CLIMBED APPROXIMATELY 200 FEET. AT THIS TIME THE AIRCRAFT APPEARED TO ENTER A SPIN AND IMPACTED THE GROUND SHORTLY THEREAFTER. THE AIRCRAFT WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED ON IMPACT AND MR. HENTGES AND HIS REAR SEAT PASSENGER WERE FATALLY INJURED. VFR CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. INVESTIGATION HAS REVEALED THAT MR. HENTGES HELD NO PILOT CERTIFICATE OR A VALID MEDICAL CERTIFICATE.

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 SEA97LA204Accident · 2 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportJordan, MTThe pilot's inadequate remedial action during an inadvertent stall/spin entry. Factors include buzzing, a rapid pull-up, and failure to maintain proper airspeed (Vs).Sep 7, 1997 · Destroyed