20040919022649A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Piper J3C-65 · Louise, TX · September 19, 2004

Date: September 19, 2004 · 10:00 local
Place: Louise, TX
Airport: Flying V Ranch Airport
Phase of flight: Forced Landing
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N98659
NTSB investigation: NTSBFTW04CA241
Reported as: Piper J3C65
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 1,700 total30 in this make and model10 in the last 90 days

N98659Registered now · Piper J3C-65S/N 18885 · Built 1946 Airframe modelPiper J3C-65 Engine modelContinental A&C75 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) While turning base to land at (T26) Louise, TX pilot was going to pull carburetor heat, but pulled fuel valve on/off control. Undershot runway. Pilot stated that he has been Flying a PA-J5 where the controls are the opposite of a PA-J3 (J3 carburetor heat right, fuel valve on/off left, J5 carburetor heat left, fuel valve on/off right.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) WHILE TURNING BASE TO LAND AT (T26) LOUISE, TX PILOT WAS GOING TO PULL CARBURETOR HEAT, BUT PULLED FUEL VALVE ON/OFF CONTROL. UNDERSHOT RUNWAY. PILOT STATED THAT HE HAS BEEN FLYING A PA-J5 WHERE THE CONTROLS ARE THE OPPOSITE OF A PA-J3 (J3 CARBURETOR HEAT RIGHT, FUEL VALVE ON/OFF LEFT, J5 CARBURETOR HEAT LEFT, FUEL VALVE ON/OFF RIGHT.

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 FTW04CA241Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportLouise, TXThe pilot's inadvertent positioning of the fuel shutoff valve resulting in the fuel starvation of the engine and the subsequent loss of engine power. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.Sep 19, 2004 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N98659 · 1

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

Accident 19750706021199ALow Level Operations · Colusa, CALooking for lost dog.Jul 6, 1975 · Substantial damage