# Accident 20000514011209A: Piper J3C65, Baco Raton, FL, May 14, 2000

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 14, 2000, 15:45 local time
- Place: Baco Raton, FL
- Airport: Boca Raton Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 26.3699° N, 80.0996° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.3699&lon=-80.0996&mi=10
- Aircraft: N70546, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N70546) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper J3C-65 (registry code 7100510, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3c-65) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental A&C65 series (registry code 17003, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER J3C65
- Reported engine: CONT A658
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 3,600 total, 722 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB MIA00LA158](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA00LA158) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000514011209A

## Narrative

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

(-23) PRELIMINARY STATEMENT ATTACHED (.4)ON MAY 14, 2000, ABOUT 1545 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, A PIPER J-3, N70546, REGISTERED TO AND OPERATED BY A PRIVATE OWNER AS A TITLE 14 CFR PART 91 PERSONAL FLIGHT, MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING ON A BEACH IN BOCA RATON, FLORIDA. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE AIRPLANE INCURRED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE, AND THE COMMERCIAL-RATED PILOT AND ONE PASSENGER DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM WILLIS GLIDER PORT, IN BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA, THE SAME DAY, ABOUT 1500. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS IN LEVEL FLIGHT AT AN ALTITUDE OF 1,300 FEET WHEN THE ENGINE CEASED OPERATING. THE PILOT FURTHER STATED THAT HE LOOKED FOR SPACE TO LAND, BUT THE BEACH WAS CROWDED, EXCEPT FOR A SMALL ROCKY AREA. DURING THE LANDING, THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR ASSEMBLY HIT A ROCK AND SEPARATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT. THE LEFT WING THEN DROPPED AND HIT A SAND BERM, AND THE AIRPLANE FLIPPED UPSIDE DOWN. AN FAA INSPECTOR WHO CONDUCTED THE ON-SCENE EXAMINATION OF THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT SAID THAT FUEL WAS IN THE AIRCRAFT, BUT IT WAS CONTAMINATED WITH DEBRIS WHEN IT WAS TRANSFERRED TO CON                                      TAINERS, DURING RECOVERY OF THE AIRCRAFT. POSTCRASH EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT REVEAL ANY PREEXISTING FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE ASSEMBLY SHOWED THAT IT ROTATED NORMALLY AND CONTINUITY OF THE CRANKSHAFT, CAMSHAFT, VALVE TRAIN AND ACCESSORY DRIVES WERE CONFIRMED. EACH CYLINDER PRODUCED FINGER COMPRESSION AND SUCTION. ALL OIL SCREENS AND FILTERS WERE FREE OF DEBRIS. EACH MAGNETO OPERATED NORMALLY WHEN TURNED BY HAND. EXAMINATION OF THE FUEL TANK, FUEL LINES, AND GASCOLATOR REVEALED NO OBSTRUCTIONS. THE CARBURETOR WAS DISASSEMBLED AND FOUND TO BE UNOBSTRUCTED, EXCEPT FOR A LIGHT FILMY RESIDUE IN THE MAIN JET, WHICH WAS EASILY DISLODGED.

## 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 MIA00LA158](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA00LA158), May 14, 2000: Piper J-3 (N70546), Boca Raton, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: a loss of engine power due to undetermined reasons that resulted in a forced landing and substantial damage to the aircraft.

## Other reports on N70546 (1)

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

- [Accident 19760905028239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19760905028239A), Sep 5, 1976: Piper J3C65 (N70546), Atlanta, GA, Substantial damage. Landed on expressway median,struck guard rail.

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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