# Accident 20170130000629A: Piper/Dear J3C, Brenham, TX, January 30, 2017

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 30, 2017, 13:30 local time
- Place: Brenham, TX
- Airport: Brenham Municipal Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 30.2197° N, 96.3744° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.2197&lon=-96.3744&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7039H, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7039H-2019-04-09) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper/Dear J3C (registry code 710051C, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-dear-j3c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental A&C65 series (registry code 17003, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER/DEAR J3C
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR A75
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,400 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN17LA093](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA093) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170130000629A

## Narrative

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

THE AIRCRAFT WAS DEPARTING FROM BRENHAM MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (11R) USING RUNWAY 16. SHORTLY AFTER TAKE OFF, IT LOST POWER AND COULD NOT MAINTAIN ALTITUDE. THE AIRCRAFT ATTEMPTED TO LAND IN A FIELD  SSE OF THE AIRFIELD. DURING LANDING THE LEFT WING IMPACTED A TREE CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO ROTATE COUNTER-CLOCKWISE. THE RIGHT WINGTIP IMPACTED THE GROUND BREAKING THE FORWARD WING SPAR AND CAUSING THE PLANE TO ROTATE IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST WITH THE NOSE POINTING APPROXIMATELY 270 DEGREES MAGNETIC.

## 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 CEN17LA093](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA093), Jan 30, 2017: Piper J3C (N7039H), Brenham, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The reciprocating engine's exhaust valve being stuck in the “open” position, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power during initial climb.

## Other reports on N7039H (3)

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

- [Incident 20020424017939I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020424017939I), Apr 24, 2002: Piper J3C40 (N7039H), Old Bridge, NJ, Minor damage. (-23) Pilot did not maintain directional control of aircraft on landing, leaving runway and striking tetrehedron, causing damage to it and the aircraft.
- [Incident 20010609014069I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010609014069I), Jun 9, 2001: Piper J3C* (N7039H), Old Bridge, NJ, Substantial damage. (-23) Landing on runway 24 during a crosswind, pilot lost control and collided with a VASI light causing substantial damage to the airplane.
- [Incident 19930809032209I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930809032209I), Aug 9, 1993: Piper J3C* (N7039H), Purcell, OK, Minor damage. Engine sputtered and died. Forced landing in open field. Aircraft nosed over. No fuel in tank or carburetor.

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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