# Accident 20140503006539A: Piper J3C-65, Connersville, IN, May 3, 2014

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 3, 2014, 14:15 local time
- Place: Connersville, IN
- Airport: Connersville, In
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Taxi
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.6944° N, 85.1322° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6944&lon=-85.1322&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6245H, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6245H) (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: Airline transport, commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 8,230 total, 44 in this make and model, 102 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN14CA231](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14CA231) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140503006539A

## Narrative

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

ON MAY 3, 2014, AT APPROXIMATELY 210 PM LOCAL TIME, N6245H, A PIPER J3C-65,  WHILE ON A VFR FLIGHT, WAS DAMAGED AFTER FLIPPING UPSIDE DOWN DURING TAXI, AT METTEL FIELD IN CONNERSVILLE, INDIANA.

THE SOLE OCCUPANT, AN ATP RATED PILOT, RECEIVED NO INJURIES.  THE AIRCRAFT IS REGISTERED TO ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ AND WAS OPERATED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 14 CODE OF FEDERAL AVIATION REGULATIONS PART 91.  VISUAL METEORLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED.

THE PILOT RECEIVED AN AWOS WEATHER REPORT PRIOR TO LANDING WHICH STATED THE WINDS WERE 270-290 AT 18 KNOTS WITH GUSTS AT 24 KNOTS.  NOAA HOURLY OBSERVATION TABLES FOR SHELBYVILLE, 50 MILES WEST, SHOW THE WINDS WERE 290 AT 16 KNOTS WITH 27 KNOT GUSTS.  NOAA OBSERVATION TABLES SHOW FROM 0900 UNTIL THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, THE WIND CONDITIONS IN INDIANA WERE 270-290, 16-21 KNOTS WITH 22-29 KNOT GUSTS.  NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED OR REQUIRED.

THE PILOT LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT AND DURING TAXI HE WAS UNABLE TO KEEP THE UP-WIND WING DOWN USING CROSS WIND TECHNIQUES OF THE FLIGHT CONTROL SURFACES.  THE AIRCRAFT LEFT WING ROSE UP AND CONTINUED ROTATION UNTIL THE AIRCRAFT WAS UPSIDE DOWN POINTED INTO THE WIND.

THE ESTIMATED GROSS WEIGHT OF THE AIRCRAFT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WAS 983 LBS.  EMPTY WEIGHT OF AIRCRAFT IS 783 LBS. THE MAXIMUM AIRCRAFT WEIGHT IS 1200 LBS.

AIRCRAFT DAMAGE WAS: A LOSS OF WING DIHEDRAL,  A BENT LEFT FORWARD DIAGONAL DOWN TUBE (FRONT SPAR TO FUSELAGE FRAME),  A BENT LEFT FORWARD LIFT STRUT, DEFORMED RUDDER TUBING, A TWISTED LEFT WING, A DAMAGED PROPELLER, AND AN ENGINE THAT EXPERIENCED SUDDEN STOPPAGE.  THE AIRCRAFT DAMAGE IS SUBSTANTIAL.

## 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 CEN14CA231](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14CA231), May 3, 2014: Piper J3C 65 (N6245H), Connersville, IN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inability to control the airplane while taxiing due to a strong crosswind condition.

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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