20100718038349A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Piper J-3C · Buckhead, GA · July 18, 2010

Date: July 18, 2010 · 17:30 local
Place: Buckhead, GA
Airport: Duck Pond
Phase of flight: Other, Specify
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N98342
NTSB investigation: NTSBERA10CA366
Reported as: Piper J-3C
Reported engine: Contintinal A&C65
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 2,000 total300 in this make and model15 in the last 90 days

N98342Registration cancelled Aug 8, 2023 · Piper J-3CS/N 18513 · Built 1946 Airframe modelPiper J-3C Engine modelLycoming 0-235 series4 cycle

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.

Aircraft was returning to the airfield due to inclement weather approaching. When on base leg, the pilot noticed donkeys on the runway. He initiated a go around, and while going around the pilot reported a microburst that forced him into the tops of the trees. The aircraft crashed just inside the treeline and destroyed the airplane.

As the FAA filed it

AIRCRAFT WAS RETURNING TO THE AIRFIELD DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER APPROACHING. WHEN ON BASE LEG, THE PILOT NOTICED DONKEYS ON THE RUNWAY. HE INITIATED A GO AROUND, AND WHILE GOING AROUND THE PILOT REPORTED A MICROBURST THAT FORCED HIM INTO THE TOPS OF THE TREES. THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED JUST INSIDE THE TREELINE AND DESTROYED THE AIRPLANE.

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 ERA10CA366Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportBuckhead, GAAn in-flight encounter with a downdraft during a go-around, resulting in a collision with trees and the ground.Jul 18, 2010 · Substantial damage