# Incident 19990417019279I: Piper J3C65, Key Biscayne, FL, April 17, 1999

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 17, 1999, 15:15 local time
- Place: Key Biscayne, FL
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 25.6907° N, 80.1656° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Key Biscayne, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.6907&lon=-80.1656&mi=10
- Aircraft: N42183, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N42183) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper J3C-65 (registry code 7100510, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3c-65) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-235 series (registry code 41505, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER J3C65
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 400 total, 60 in this make and model, 40 in the last 90 days
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990417019279I

## Narrative

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

ATTACHED NARRATIVE: PILOT DEPARTED NORTH PERRY AIRPORT AROUND 01:45PM OF 4/17/99 HEADED FOR THE BEACHES BETWEEN FORT LAUDERDALE AND POMPANO, FLORIDA.  THE PILOT STATED HE ENCOUNTERED A BIG MASS OF BLACK SMOKE PRIOR TO REACHING FORT LAUDERDALE.  HE TURNED BACK TO NORTH PERRY, BUT NORTH PERRY AND OPA LOCKA WERE IFR.  VMC FLIGHT TOOK THE PILOT TO THE AREA AROUND KEY BISCAYNE.  THIS AREA WENT IMC AND THE PILOT ELECTED TO MAINTAIN VISUAL CONTACT WITH THE LAND MASS AT KEY BISCAYNE AND THE CAPE FLORIDA LIGHTHOUSE DUE TO RAPIDLY DECREASING CEILING AND VISIBILITY CAUSED BY FRONTAL PASSAGE AND SMOKE RESULTING FROM MASSIVE FIREST IN THE FLORIDA EVERGLADES.  AFTER SEVERAL CLEARING PASSES ALONG THE BEACH NORTH OF THE LIGHTHOUSE, THE PILOT MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN APPROXIMATELY TWO FEET OF SALT WATER 20 FEET FROM THE SHORE LINE.  THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER CAUSING MINOR PROPELLER DAMAGE AND CAME TO REST WITH THE NOSE BURIED IN THE SAND.  THE PILOT WAS UNHURT AND EXITED THE AIRCRAFT WITH HIS FLIGHT GEAR.  IT WAS NOTED THAT THE STATE PARK SERVICE HAD PREVIOUSLY BEGUN BEACH GOER EVACUATION DUE TO THE LOSS OF VISIBILITY AND HORIZON AT THE PARK.

## Other reports on N42183 (4)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 20080627840269I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080627840269I), Jun 27, 2008: Piper J3C65 (N42183), Robbinsville, NJ, Minor damage. (-23) The first FAA notification of this incident was on 06/28/08 (approximately 23 hours after the event) when the pilot contacted the eastern region ops…
- [Incident 19970907038779I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970907038779I), Sep 7, 1997: Piper J3C65 (N42183), Hollywood, FL, Minor damage. Narrative: the banner tow pilot attempted to pick up a banner from too low a position resulting in the banner becoming hooked on the aircraft tail wheel…
- [Incident 19880414018889I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880414018889I), Apr 14, 1988: Piper J3C65 (N42183), Ft Lauderdale, FL. Loss of power flying banner over ocean. Banner dropped. Made a safe landing. Found #1 cylinder had no compression.
- [Accident 19830728036561A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830728036561A), Jul 28, 1983: Piper J3C65 (N42183), North Myrtle Be, SC, Substantial damage. Aircraft taxied into N6190C which attempted to avoid collision but was unable to get FAR enough off taxiway.

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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