20040721018499A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Piper J3C-65 · Palmer, AK · July 21, 2004

Date: July 21, 2004 · 16:00 local
Place: Palmer, AK
Phase of flight: Climb
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N3458N
NTSB investigation: NTSBANC04CA082
Reported as: Piper J3C65
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 2,000 total2,000 in this make and model1 in the last 90 days

N3458NRegistration cancelled May 20, 2015 · Piper J3C-65S/N 22676 · Built 1947 Airframe modelPiper J3C-65 Engine modelContinental C90 seriesReciprocating

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) On July 21, 2004, Mr. Ronald hills was the pilot in command of N3458N a PA-J3. Mr. Hills departed VFR from a remote strip located at N61.28W 148.50. During the climb at approximately 500 AGL flying into a 20 mph wind, he made a turn against a canyon wall where he encountered a downdraft of 500 fpm from which he said he could not get out of and subsequently crashed into the tops of some trees.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) ON JULY 21, 2004, MR. RONALD HILLS WAS THE PILOT IN COMMAND OF N3458N A PA-J3. MR. HILLS DEPARTED VFR FROM A REMOTE STRIP LOCATED AT N61.28W 148.50. DURING THE CLIMB AT APPROXIMATELY 500 AGL FLYING INTO A 20 MPH WIND, HE MADE A TURN AGAINST A CANYON WALL WHERE HE ENCOUNTERED A DOWNDRAFT OF 500 FPM FROM WHICH HE SAID HE COULD NOT GET OUT OF AND SUBSEQUENTLY CRASHED INTO THE TOPS OF SOME TREES.

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 ANC04CA082Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportPalmer, AKThe pilot's inadequate evaluation of the wind conditions which resulted in an encounter with a downdraft during the takeoff/initial climb, and subsequent collision with trees and terrain. Factors contributing to the accident were the presence of a downdraft,…Jul 22, 2004 · Substantial damage