# Accident 20170820013509A: Piper J3C-65, Green Creek, NJ, August 20, 2017

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 20, 2017, 13:46 local time
- Place: Green Creek, NJ
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: J3JJ
- Location: 39.0650° N, 74.9097° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0650&lon=-74.9097&mi=10
- Aircraft: N46286, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N46286) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper J3C-65 (registry code 7100510, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3c-65) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-235 series (registry code 41505, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER J3C-65
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-235 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 751 total, 507 in this make and model, 235 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA17LA281](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17LA281) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170820013509A

## Narrative

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

AIRCRAFT TOOK OFF FROM PARAMOUNT AIRPORT AT 09:48 EST TO CONDUCT BANNER TOW OPERATIONS. AIRCRAFT FLEW UNTIL 13:40 EST, AT WHICH POINT IT DROPPED ITS LAST BANNER AND TURNED DOWNWIND. FOLLOWING THE TURN, AT APPROXIMATELY 250 FEET AGL, THE ENGINE QUIT, AT WHICH POINT THE PILOT MOVED THE FUEL SELECTOR FROM LEFT TANK TO RIGHT TANK. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED AN ENGINE RESTART, WHICH WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED IN A MARSH CLOSE TO THE AIRSTRIP. THE AIRCRAFT HAS FIREWALL DAMAGE, AND THE RIGHT WING IS PARTIALLY DETACHED. BOTH MLG APPEAR TO BE COLLAPSED. THE PILOT SUSTAINED A HEAD INJURY THAT REQUIRED STITCHES. AT THE CRASH SITE, APPROXIMATELY ONE GALLON OF FUEL COULD BE DRAINED OUT OF THE RIGHT TANK. NO FUEL COULD BE DRAINED OUT OF THE LEFT TANK, WHICH APPEARED TO BE EMPTY.

## 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 ERA17LA281](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17LA281), Aug 20, 2017: Piper J3C (N46286), Green Creek, NJ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's exhaustion of the fuel supply in the selected tank.

## Other reports on N46286 (5)

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

- [Incident 20070625015779I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070625015779I), Jun 25, 2007: Piper J3C65 (N46286), Stone Harbor, NJ, No damage. (-23) Aircraft departed green creek, NJ, green creek landing strip (JY04). While conducting a banner tow operation at approximately 500 feet the engine started…
- [Incident 20000717034329I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000717034329I), Jul 17, 2000: Piper J3C65 (N46286), Green Creek, NJ, Minor damage. (-23)The pilot stated on climb out from a banner pick up the aircraft engine to lose power. The pilot elected to drop the banner. After the banner was released…
- [Incident 19960812037609I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960812037609I), Aug 12, 1996: Piper J3C65 (N46286), Sea Isle, NJ. Narrative: at an altitude of 400 feet, the banner being towed by Mr. Clark became tangled with a parasailer. Rather than release the banner and allow the…
- [Accident 19890610015249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890610015249A), Jun 10, 1989: Piper J3C65 (N46286), Wildwood, NJ, Substantial damage. On climbout slow airspeed, gusty winds, banner tow student descended into trees.
- [Incident 19840527037099I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840527037099I), May 27, 1984: Piper J3C65 (N46286), Cape May, NJ, Substantial damage. Indicates banner tow aircraft crashed while picking up a double banner not separated from prior flight by handlers.

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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