# Incident 20110917021019I: Piper J3C-65, Dunkirk, NY, September 17, 2011

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 17, 2011, 11:00 local time
- Place: Dunkirk, NY
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 42.4806° N, 79.3329° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Dunkirk, NY, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4806&lon=-79.3329&mi=10
- Aircraft: N41116, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N41116) (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 J3C-65
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR C85 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 850 total, 20 in this make and model, 25 in the last 90 days
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110917021019I

## Narrative

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

AIRMAN REPORTS WHEN HE DEPARTED HIS HOME AIRPORT NEAR CHITTENANGO, NY THAT HE HAD FULL FUEL. HE NOTED THAT HE MUST HAVE HAD A GOOD GROUND SPEED BASED ON HIS TIMING BETWEEN CHECK POINTS-EVEN THOUGH THE PILOT DID NOT FLIGHT  PLAN. OVER THE DUNKIRK AIRPORT, THE PILOT DELIBERATELY STALLED THE AIRPLANE IN AN ATTEMPT TO GIGGLE THE CORK AND WIRE FUEL FLOAT TO DETERMINE THAT IT WAS READING ACCURATELY. THE AIRMAN REPORTED THAT THERE WAS NO CHANGE IN THE WIRE AND PROCEEDED TOWARDS DART FIELD, IN MAYVILLE, NY WHICH IS ABOUT 15 MINUTES FROM THE DUNKIRK, NY (DKK) AIRPORT. HAVING FLOWN OVER THE VILLAGE OF FREDONIA AT 3200 FEET, THE ENGINE QUITE. HE TURNED AND HEADED FOR THE DKK AIRPORT. HE RECOGNIZED HE WOULD NOT MAKE THE AIRPORT AND ELECTED TO LAND ON THE "THRUWAY DRIVING RANGE" IN DUNKIRK, NY. DURING THE APPROACH, IT APPEARS THAT THE RIGHT AILERON GLANCED OFF A RAIL ROAD TIE USED TO SECURE THE GRAPE VINES. THE IMPACT CAUSED THE RAIL ROAD TIE TO COME OUT OF THE GROUND. THIS IMPACT CAUSED THE AIRPLANE TO IMPACT THE GROUND, SO THAT IT SHEERED OFF THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR AND THE AIRPLANE SKIDDED AND CAME TO REST IN A 3 - 4 FEET DEEP DRAINAGE DITCH. THERE WAS NO INJURIES TO THE PILOT AND AIRPLANE SUSTAINED MINOR DAMAGE.

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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