20070518014759A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Piper J3C-65 · Pontiac, MI · May 18, 2007

Date: May 18, 2007 · 12:15 local
Place: Pontiac, MI
Airport: Oakland County International
Phase of flight: To Aborted (Fixed Wing)
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N28DR
NTSB investigation: NTSBCHI07CA149
Reported as: Piper J3C65
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 7,000 total20 in this make and model90 in the last 90 days

N28DRRegistered now · Piper J3C-65S/N 21010 · Built 1945 Airframe modelPiper J3C-65 Engine modelContinental A&C65 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) Aircraft N28DR was observed to be partially submerged in Pontiac lake. After the aircraft was towed to shore, a physical inspection of the aircraft revealed that the right wing fore and aft spar were bent at a 45 degree angle. The forward mount of left float was broken. Pilot did not require medical attention. Pilot was interviewed.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) AIRCRAFT N28DR WAS OBSERVED TO BE PARTIALLY SUBMERGED IN PONTIAC LAKE. AFTER THE AIRCRAFT WAS TOWED TO SHORE, A PHYSICAL INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED THAT THE RIGHT WING FORE AND AFT SPAR WERE BENT AT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE. THE FORWARD MOUNT OF LEFT FLOAT WAS BROKEN. PILOT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. PILOT WAS INTERVIEWED.

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 CHI07CA149Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportWaterford, MIThe pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane, causing a water loop. A factor in the accident was the water loop encountered.May 18, 2007 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N28DR · 1

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

Accident 20250624007319ALanding: Approach · Dunlap, TNPilot flying JC3-65 cub, while attempting to land, struck tree tops with left wing causing aircraft to stall, striking the ground nose-first. Two persons were on Board, one fatality and one severely injured. Aircraft sustained substantial damage.Jun 24, 2025 · Substantial damage · 1 fatal