# Accident 20100420033029A: Piper J3C-65, White Bear Lake, MN, April 20, 2010

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 20, 2010, 15:50 local time
- Place: White Bear Lake, MN
- Airport: Benson (Private)
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 45.1164° N, 92.9958° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.1164&lon=-92.9958&mi=10
- Aircraft: N87792, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N87792) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper J3C-65 (registry code 7100510, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3c-65) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental A&C75 series (registry code 17005, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c75-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER J3C-65
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR A&C75 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport
- Pilot flight hours: 20,000 total, 400 in this make and model, 2 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN10CA211](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10CA211) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100420033029A

## Narrative

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

PILOT STATED THAT HE PERFORMED A ROUTINE PREFLIGHT UPON ARRIVAL AT THE AIRPORT. HE SUMPED THE WING TANKS TWICE AND RAN THE ENGINE TWICE FOR APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES BEFORE TAXIING OUT AND DOING A RUNUP BEFORE DEPARTURE. DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL HE SAID THAT HE NEITHER HEARD NOR SAW ANY ABNORMALITIES. REACHING APPROXIMATELY 150-200 FEET THE ENGINE STARTED SPUTTERING AND THEN SURGED. IT THEN SPUTTERED A COUPLE MORE TIMES AND QUIT. THE PILOT MADE AN EMERGENGY LANDING IN A CLEARING BETWEEN TWO PINE TREES AND SEVERELY DAMAGED THE AIRCRAFT.

## 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 CEN10CA211](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10CA211), Apr 20, 2010: Piper J3C-65 (N87792), White Bear Lake, MN, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power during takeoff due to fuel contamination as a result of the pilot's inadequate preflight inspection.

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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