# Accident 20150503006251A: Piper J3C-65, Dekalb, IL, May 3, 2015

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 3, 2015, 10:00 local time
- Place: Dekalb, IL
- Airport: Dekalb Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Collision: Collision on the ground
- Phase of flight: Ground/Ramp/Ma
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.9339° N, 88.7056° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9339&lon=-88.7056&mi=10
- Aircraft: N98656, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N98656) (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: Sport pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 80 total, 11 in this make and model, 2 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN15CA223](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15CA223) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150503006251A

## Narrative

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

ON APRIL 30, 2015, THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND OF N98656 A PIPER J-3 CUB, PURCHASED THE AIRCRAFT IN PARK RAPIDS (KPKD), MINNESOTA.    THE PIC, A CERTIFICATED SPORT PILOT, DEPARTED MONROE MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (KEFT), IN WISCONSIN ENROUTE TO DEKALB AIRPORT (KDKB), IN ILLINOIS FOR A FUEL STOP.  THE PIC RECEIVED A WEATHER BRIEFING VIA DUATS ON HIS IPAD.

UPON ARRIVING AT KDKB, THE PILOT TAXIED OFF THE RUNWAY AND WAS PROCEEDING TO THE FUEL PUMPS.  THE PIC STATED THAT HE WAS S-TAXIING THE AIRCRAFT TO BE ABLE TO SEE THE AIRCRAFT IN FRONT OF HIM SINCE HE WAS SITTING IN THE BACK SEAT OF THE TAIL DRAGGER AIRCRAFT.  WHEN ENTERING THE RAMP AREA, THE PIC NOTICED THAT THERE WERE SOME AIRCRAFT PARKED ON THE RAMP.  THE WINDS WERE STRIKING THE VERTICAL STABILIZER MAKING THE AIRCRAFT MORE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL AND THE PICS ATTENTION WAS NEEDED TO CONTROL THE AIRCRAFT.  THE PIC DECIDED TO APPROACH THE FUEL PUMPS AT A THIRTY DEGREE ANGLE AND LEFT THE DESIGNATED TAXI MARKINGS.  NOT SEEING N4678A, A BONANZA PARKED ON THE RAMP. THE PIC OF THE J-3 CUB IMPACTED THE BONANZA WITH HIS PROPELLER AND COWLING CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT WING OF THE BONANZA.  THE RIGHT WING LIFT STRUT CONTACTED THE RIGHT WING OF THE BONANZA.  THE PIC OF THE J-3 CUB WAS ALREADY PREPARING TO SHUT THE AIRCRAFT'S ENGINE DOWN AND HAD THE THROTTLE REDUCED TO SLIGHTLY ABOVE IDLE AND HAD SHUT THE MAGNETOS OFF ON THE CUB.  THE POWER TO THE ENGINE WAS ENOUGH TO CAUSE THE PROPELLER TO BREAK WHEN IT IMPACTED THE PARKED AIRCRAFT.

NO INJURIES OR FIRE OCCURRED AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT.  N98656 INCURRED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT WING AND AIRCRAFT FUSELAGE.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS TRANSPORTED ON A TRUCK TO THE OWNERS HOME IN OHIO.

## 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 CEN15CA223](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15CA223), May 3, 2015: Piper J3C-65 (N98656), De Kalb, IL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's loss of positional awareness while taxiing, resulting in a collision with a parked and unoccupied airplane. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's difficulty seeing over the nose of…

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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