# Accident 20010610017049A: Piper J3C65, West Fargo, ND, June 10, 2001

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 10, 2001, 20:00 local time
- Place: West Fargo, ND
- Airport: West Fargo Utility Airport
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 46.8708° N, 96.8896° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.8708&lon=-96.8896&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3253N, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3253N) (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
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI01LA201](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI01LA201) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010610017049A

## Narrative

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

(-23) PILOT/OWNER DEPARTED HARD SURFACED RUNWAY AT WEST FARGO UTILITY AIRPORT WITH FLOAT EQUIPPED AIRCRAFT. AIRCRAFT WAS ON DETACHABLE WHEELED DOLLYS WHICH REMAINED ON THE GROUND AFTER THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED.  PILOT STAYED IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN AND ATTEMPTED A LANDING ON DRY GRASS ADJACENT TO THE RUNWAY.  DURING LANDING THE LEFT FLOAT RIGGING COLLAPSED CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO NOSE OVER.  PROP STRUCK THE GROUND AS ID THE LEFT WING.  UPON ARRIVAL AT THE AIRCRAFT ON 6-14-01 IT WAS FOUND THAT THE LEFT WING HAD BEEN REMOVED TO AN UNKNOWN LOCATION.  THE WING WAS LOCATED IN MINNESOTA ON 7-9-01 AND AN INSPECTION REVEALED SPAR DAMAGE TO THE LEFT WING. (SUBSTANTIAL).

## 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 CHI01LA201](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI01LA201), Jun 11, 2001: Piper J3-C65 (N3253N), West Fargo, ND, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's inadequate preflight planning and the unsuitable landing area selected by the pilot. Additional factors were the uneven terrain and the failed float assembly in overload.

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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