What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On September 4, 2003 at 1530 CDT a Piper J3C-65 owned by dakota airspray, inc. and operated by christian reimche made an emergency landing after power loss during cruise flight. VMC weather conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft received substantial damage and the pilot and passenger were not injured. The pilot holds a commercial pilot certificate. The flight originated at the pilot's private airstrip near summit, SD. Field investigation of the engine by a local mechanic determined that the engine would run. Before the test run, when the fuel was turned on, the carburetor leaked fuel (the float valve was stuck).
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON SEPTEMBER 4, 2003 AT 1530 CDT A PIPER J3C-65 OWNED BY DAKOTA AIRSPRAY, INC. AND OPERATED BY CHRISTIAN REIMCHE MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING AFTER POWER LOSS DURING CRUISE FLIGHT. VMC WEATHER CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE AIRCRAFT RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AND THE PILOT AND PASSENGER WERE NOT INJURED. THE PILOT HOLDS A COMMERCIAL PILOT CERTIFICATE. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT THE PILOT'S PRIVATE AIRSTRIP NEAR SUMMIT, SD. FIELD INVESTIGATION OF THE ENGINE BY A LOCAL MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD RUN. BEFORE THE TEST RUN, WHEN THE FUEL WAS TURNED ON, THE CARBURETOR LEAKED FUEL (THE FLOAT VALVE WAS STUCK).
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.