# Accident 19980125000529A: Piper J3C65, Mankato, MN, January 25, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 25, 1998, 11:00 local time
- Place: Mankato, MN
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 44.1600° N, 93.9890° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.1600&lon=-93.9890&mi=10
- Aircraft: N110RR, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N110RR) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper J3C-65 (registry code 7100510, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3c-65) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental C85 series (registry code 17008, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER J3C65
- Reported engine: CONT C8512F
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 4,100 total, 500 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI98LA087](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA087) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980125000529A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ATTEMPTED LANDING SNOWY FIELD ON SKIES. LOST VISUAL REFRENCE DUE WHITEOUT. STRUCK PIPELINE MARKER POLE, FLIPPED OVER. (.19)  ON JANUARY 25, 1998, AT 1100 CENTRAL STANDARD TIME (CST), A PIPER J3C, N110RR, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING A COLLISION WITH A PIPELINE MARKER POLE DURING THE LANDING ROLLOUT IN A FARMER'S FIELD. THE INSTRUMENT RATED COMMERCIAL PILOT REPORTED NO INJURIES.  THE 14 CFR PART 91 PERSONAL FLIGHT WAS NOT OPERATING ON A FLIGHT PLAN.  VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS WERE REPORTED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.  THE FLIGHT DEPARTED EAGLE NEST, MINNESOTA, AT 1045 CST. (-23) PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING A LANDING IN SNOW COVERED FIELD ON SKIS.  DURING LANDING FLARE, PILOT LOST VISUAL REFERENCES DUE TO THE GROUND BEING ALL WHITE.  AIRCRAFT DRIFTED TO THE RIGHT (DOWNWIND), STRIKING A PIPELINE MARKER AT APPROX. 30 MPH.  AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST APPROX. 20 FEET PAST PIPELINE POLE UPSIDE DOWN.  PILOT ESCAPED WRECKAGE UNASSISTED AND UNINJURED.  (.4)THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A LANDING IN A FIELD AT A FRIEND'S FARM AFTER A SHORT FLIGHT FROM A NEARBY AIRPORT.  THE PILOT STATED THAT ON APPROACH HE NOTED A CROSSWIND FROM THE LEFT AND HAD THE '...LEFT WING LOW FOR (THE) WIND.'  THE PILOT STATED THE AIRPLANE DRIFTED TO THE RIGHT OF THE CENTERLINE OF THE INTENDED LANDING SITE, IMPACTED A PIPELINE MARKER POLE, AND SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED THE AIRPLANE.  THE PILOT STATED THAT HE 'COULDN'T TELL (HE) WAS DRIFTING TO (THE) NORTH BECAUSE OF (THE) SNOW CONDITIONS.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CHI98LA087](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA087), Jan 25, 1998: Piper J3C (N110RR), Mankato, MN, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions and not maintaining proper alignment. Factors contributing to the accident were the snow covered terrain and the lack of depth perception…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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