# Accident 20010629026389A: Piper J3F65, Findlay, OH, June 29, 2001

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 29, 2001, 17:42 local time
- Place: Findlay, OH
- Airport: Priebe Airport
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.1139° N, 83.6844° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at Priebe Airport, closed, within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1139&lon=-83.6844&mi=10
- Aircraft: N40782, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N40782) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper J3F-65 (registry code 7100536, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3f-65) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Franklin 4AC176B series (registry code 27006, https://openairdocs.org/engine/franklin-4ac176b-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER J3F65
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC01LA156](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC01LA156) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010629026389A

## Narrative

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

(-23) AIRCRAFT NC40782, A PIPER J3, WAS ATTEMPTING TO DEPART THE PRIEBE AIRPORT (7D5) ON 06/29/01, AT 1742 LOCAL TIME. THE TAKE-OFF WAS NORMAL UNTIL THE AIRCRAFT REACHED APPROXIMATELY 100 FT. OF ALTITUDE. AT THAT POINT THE ENGINE QUIT. THE PILOT AND EYE WITNESS TO THE ACCIDENT BOTH STATED THE ENGINE BACKFIRED, THEN LOST POWER. THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED INTO POWER LINES AND AN ELECTRIC POLE. THE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED. THE AIRCRAFT RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE FUSELAGE AND LANDING GEAR. INITIAL INVESTIGATION OF THE ENGINE BY THE FAA INVESTIGATOR-IN-CHARGE PROVED THAT FUEL STARVATION WAS NOT A FACTOR. HOWEVER, WHEN THE SPARK PLUGS WERE PULLED OUT AND THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS PLACED IN THE BOTH POSITION, NO SPARK WAS PRESENT WHEN THE PROPELLER WAS ROTATED. THE P-LEADS WERE THEN DISCONNECTED FROM BOTH MAGNETOS. AGAIN THE PROPELLER WAS ROTATED, THIS TIME SPARK WAS PRESENT AT ALL PLUGS. THE WIRING BETWEEN THE MAGNETOS TO THE SWITCH WERE CHECKED FOR CONTINUITY, CHECKED O.K. THE MAGNETO SWITCH WAS REMOVED FOR INSPECTION.

## 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 NYC01LA156](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC01LA156), Jun 29, 2001: Piper J3F-65 (N40782), Findlay, OH, substantial damage. Probable cause: Two chafed ignition switch leads, which resulted in a failure of the ignition system and subsequent total loss of engine power.

## Other reports on N40782 (2)

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

- [Accident 19860504015539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860504015539A), May 4, 1986: Piper J3F65 (N40782), Wauseon, OH, Substantial damage. The aircraft ground looped on landing. Pilot failed to update weather briefing and landed in strong crosswinds.
- [Accident 19750820025609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19750820025609A), Aug 20, 1975: Piper J3F65 (N40782), Blissfield, MI, Substantial damage. Lost ctl aftr bounced lndg acft entrd soy bean fld and struck standing corn in adj fld.

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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