20020526009909A

Accident · No damage

FAA accident report · Piper J3F-65 · Chatsworth, GA · May 26, 2002

Date: May 26, 2002 · 20:32 local
Place: Chatsworth, GA
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: No damage
Aircraft: N33204
NTSB investigation: NTSBMIA02LA099
Reported as: Piper J3F65
Fatal injuries: 0

N33204Registered now · Piper J3F-65S/N 5910 Airframe modelPiper J3F-65

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) Aircraft was departing a private sod airfield to the east approximately 15 NM in front of a developing thunderstorm. Shortly after lift off, the aircraft was caught in a severe downdraft. When the pilot realized that he could not clear the power lines at the end of the field, he attempted to go under them. His right wing struck a utility pole, and the aircraft came to rest several hundred feet past the power lines.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) AIRCRAFT WAS DEPARTING A PRIVATE SOD AIRFIELD TO THE EAST APPROXIMATELY 15 NM IN FRONT OF A DEVELOPING THUNDERSTORM. SHORTLY AFTER LIFT OFF, THE AIRCRAFT WAS CAUGHT IN A SEVERE DOWNDRAFT. WHEN THE PILOT REALIZED THAT HE COULD NOT CLEAR THE POWER LINES AT THE END OF THE FIELD, HE ATTEMPTED TO GO UNDER THEM. HIS RIGHT WING STRUCK A UTILITY POLE, AND THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST SEVERAL HUNDRED FEET PAST THE POWER LINES.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB MIA02LA099Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportEton, GAThe pilot's failure to maintain directional control during initial climb after takeoff, resulting in collision with a power pole. A factor in the accident was the flight's encounter with a downdraft condition during initial climb.May 26, 2002 · Substantial damage