20170524008929A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Piper J3C-65 · Chetek, WI · May 24, 2017

Date: May 24, 2017 · 18:34 local
Place: Chetek, WI
Phase of flight: Descent
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N35132
NTSB investigation: NTSBCEN17FA196
Reported as: Piper J3C-65
Reported engine: Continental C85-12
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 1
Other injuries: 1
Pilot’s certificate: Private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 188 total41 in this make and model24 in the last 90 days

N35132Registered now · Piper J3C-65S/N 6144 Airframe modelPiper J3C-65

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Aircraft crashed into river at 45 degree nose-down attitude. Engine was determined to be operating normally prior to accident and control surfaces were functioning normally as concluded thru investigation findings. Pilot fatal due to drowning - swift river current present. Shoulder harnesses were not worn by occupants. Seatbelts were not properly installed.

As the FAA filed it

AIRCRAFT CRASHED INTO RIVER AT 45 DEGREE NOSE-DOWN ATTITUDE. ENGINE WAS DETERMINED TO BE OPERATING NORMALLY PRIOR TO ACCIDENT AND CONTROL SURFACES WERE FUNCTIONING NORMALLY AS CONCLUDED THRU INVESTIGATION FINDINGS. PILOT FATAL DUE TO DROWNING - SWIFT RIVER CURRENT PRESENT. SHOULDER HARNESSES WERE NOT WORN BY OCCUPANTS. SEATBELTS WERE NOT PROPERLY INSTALLED.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB CEN17FA196Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportChetek, WIThe pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane while flying at a low altitude, which resulted in the airplane exceeding the critical angle of attack and a subsequent aerodynamic stall.May 24, 2017 · Substantial damage