# Accident 20070812015869A: Piper J3C65, Frenchtown, NJ, August 12, 2007

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 12, 2007, 18:30 local time
- Place: Frenchtown, NJ
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.5014° N, 75.0594° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5014&lon=-75.0594&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6429H, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6429H-2014-04-15) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper J3C-65 (registry code 7100510, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3c-65) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental C85 series (registry code 17008, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER J3C65
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 300 total, 100 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC07LA192](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC07LA192) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070812015869A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) THE PILOT STATED PRIOR TO HIS DESCENT FROM 1,400 FEET MSL TO APPROXIMATELY 700 FEET MSL OVER THE DELEWARE RIVER NEAR FRENCHTOWN NJ, HE APPLIED CARBURETOR HEAT AND RETARDED THE THROTTLE. DURING HIS LEVEL OFF AT 500 FEET AGL, HE STATED HE TURNED OFF THE CARBURETOR HEAT AND APPLIED POWER. HE STATED THE ENGINE WAS UNRESPONSIVE AND TRIED PUMPING THE THROTTLE SEVERAL TIMES WITHOUT SUCCESS. THE AIRCRAFT WAS ORIGINALLY ON A NORTHBOUND HEADING. THE PILOT SPOTTED A LARGE FIELD TO THE EAST AND TURNED IN AN ATTEMPT TO GLIDE TO THE FIELD. THE PILOT STATED HE REALIZED HE WOULD NOT MAKE THE FIELD AND ATTEMPTED TO LAND IN A TREELINE WEST OF THE FIELD AS SLOW AS POSSIBLE. THE AIRCRAFT CONTACTED THE TREES WHICH BROKE THE WINGS CAUSING THEM TO PARALLEL THE FUSELAGE. THE FUSELAGE REAR OF THE COCKPIT BENT IN A DOWNWARD POSITION. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF PROPELLER ROTATION, AND THERE WAS REMAINING FUEL IN THE FUSELAGE TANK AFT OF THE ENGINE. OAT WAS 86F, RELATIVE HUMIDITY WAS 36. WINDS WERE OUT OF THE NORTH AT 4 KNOTS, AND WEATHER WAS VMC. THERE WERE ONLY MINOR INJURIES TO THE PASSENGER, THE PILOT'S WIFE WHO OCCUPIED THE FRONT SEAT.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB NYC07LA192](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC07LA192), Aug 12, 2007: Piper J-3 (N6429H), Frenchtown, NJ, substantial damage. Probable cause: A partial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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