# Accident 20080209010329A: Piper J3C65, Shallowater, TX, February 9, 2008

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 9, 2008, 18:15 local time
- Place: Shallowater, TX
- Airport: Biggin Hill
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: In Traffic Pattern-Circling
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.7483° N, 102.0669° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7483&lon=-102.0669&mi=10
- Aircraft: N26868, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N26868) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper J3C-65 (registry code 7100510, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3c-65) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-320 series (registry code 41509, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER J3C65
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 8,000 total, 500 in this make and model, 15 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB DFW08CA069](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW08CA069) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080209010329A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON FEBRUARY 9, 2008, AT APPROXIMATELY 1815 CST, THE PILOT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WAS OPERATING N26868, A PIPER J3C-65, OVER A PRIVATELY OWNED GRASS STRIP, BIGGIN HILL, APPROXIMATELY 8 MILES NORTHWEST OF SHALLOWATER, TEXAS, AND APPROXIMATELY ONE QUARTER MILE EAST OF US 84. THE PILOT STATED HE MADE A 90 DEGREE RIGHT TURN FROM BASE LEG TO FINAL AS HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO LAND TO THE SOUTHEAST. HE WAS APPARENTLY TOO LOW, AND HE FLEW THE AIRPLANE INTO THE GROUND. THE PILOT ALSO STATED THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING NORMAL, AND NO EVIDENCE OF ENGINE FAILURE. THE RIGHT WING TIP STRUCK THE GROUND APPROXIMATELY 288 FEET SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST ABOUT 108 FEET SHORT OF THE RUNWAY AND WAS DESTROYED. THE 82 YEAR OLD PILOT, WHO WAS THE SOLE OCCUPANT, RECEIVED A MINOR CUT ON HIS ARM.

## 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 DFW08CA069](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW08CA069), Feb 10, 2008: Piper J3C-65 (N26868), Shallowater, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: Failure of the pilot to maintain a safe clearance from the terrain while manuevering for the landing surface.

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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