# Accident 20140916018759A: Piper J3C-65, Ft Gaines, GA, September 16, 2014

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 16, 2014, 16:25 local time
- Place: Ft Gaines, GA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Unknown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 31.5556° N, 85.0497° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.5556&lon=-85.0497&mi=10
- Aircraft: N95480, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N95480-2018-03-15) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper J3C-65 (registry code 7100510, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3c-65) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental A75-8F (registry code 17140, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a75-8f) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER J3C-65
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR A75-8F
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 5,700 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA14FA455](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14FA455) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140916018759A

## Narrative

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

PILOT AND PASSENGER TOOK OFF FROM HEADLAND AIRPORT, AL (0J6) ENROUTE TO EUFAULA AIRPORT, AL (F08).  AIRCRAFT WAS FLYING IN VFR CONDITIONS.  AIRCRAFT WAS REPORTED MISSING ON 9/16/14 @ 1658 LOCAL.  AIRCRAFT WAS NOT LOCATED UNTIL 9/23/14.

APPROXIMATELY 5 MILES SOUTH OF FT. GAINES, GA.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS FOUND SUBMERGED 15FT IN THE CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVER.  BOTH THE PILOT AND PASSENGER WERE STILL IN THE AIRCRAFT.   AIRCRAFT WAS RECOVERED WITH ASSISTANCE FROM US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS AND LOCAL LEO.

THE AIRCRAFT WAS FOUND INTACT, HOWEVER THE BOTH LANDING GEAR STRUTS HAD DEPARTED THE AIRCRAFT, ONLY ONE WAS RECOVERED.

DURING TEARDOWN NO ANOMALIES WERE NOTED WITH THE AIRCRAFT, ENGINE OR PROP.

## 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 ERA14FA455](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14FA455), Sep 16, 2014: Piper J3C-65 (N95480), Fort Gaines, GA, substantial damage, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during flight, which resulted in a collision with a river.

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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