# Accident 20000331042909A: Piper J3C65, Eureka, SD, March 31, 2000

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 31, 2000, 08:45 local time
- Place: Eureka, SD
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Descent
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 45.7712° N, 99.6207° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Eureka, SD, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.7712&lon=-99.6207&mi=10
- Aircraft: N71060, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N71060) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper J3C-65 (registry code 7100510, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3c-65) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental 0-200 series (registry code 17020, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER J3C65
- Reported engine: CONT O200A
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,020 total, 1,020 in this make and model, 192 in the last 90 days
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000331042909A

## Narrative

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

(-23) PILOT MICHAEL HARMON AND HIS PASSENGER ^PRIVACY DAT^ WERE HUNTING COYOTES NEAR EUREKA, SD. AFTER THE FIRST PASS ON A COYOTE A SHOTGUN SHELL BECAME LODGED IN THE ELEVATOR CONTROL. ON THE SECOND PASS, THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE ELEVATOR. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND, LEFT WING DOWN. THE IMPACT BROKE OFF THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR, DAMAGED THE LEFT WING SPAR AND TWISTED THE FUSELAGE.

## NTSB investigation

None matched to this report by aircraft and date. Search the NTSB's own records: https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/basic-search

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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