# Accident 20130509007749A: Piper J3C-65, Selma, NC, May 9, 2013

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 9, 2013, 19:30 local time
- Place: Selma, NC
- Airport: Airport Name
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.5675° N, 78.2833° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5675&lon=-78.2833&mi=10
- Aircraft: N21609, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N21609) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper J3C-65 (registry code 7100510, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3c-65) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental A&C65 series (registry code 17003, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER J3C-65
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR A&C65 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 17,400 total, 407 in this make and model, 9 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA13CA234](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13CA234) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130509007749A

## Narrative

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

^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WAS GIVING FLIGHT INSTRUCTION TO ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, A NEW STUDENT  PILOT IN THE PRE-SOLO STAGE OF FLIGHT TRAINING.  THEY DEPARTED A GRASS RUNWAY  NEAR SMITHFIELD NC AND ATTEMPTED A LANDING ON A PRIVATE GRASS RUNWAY NEAR SELMA NC.

THE AIRCRAFT STUCK POWER LINES LOCATED VERY NEAR THE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE POWER LINES WERE UNMARKED. THE PILOT REPORTED THE SKY CONTAINED HAZE AND THEY WERE LANDING INTO AN AFTERNOON SUN AND FAILED TO SEE THE POWER LINES.

THE AIRCRAFT LANDED INVERTED ON THE RUNWAY CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.

## 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 ERA13CA234](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13CA234), May 9, 2013: Piper J3C-65 (N21609), Selma, NC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The instructor pilot’s inadequate visual lookout, which resulted in a collision with power lines and then the ground.

## Other reports on N21609 (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19810402014279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810402014279A), Apr 2, 1981: Piper J3C65 (N21609), Canton, PA, Substantial damage. Pilot overshot landing when attempting downwind landing on go around. Hit road sign and trees.

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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