20190902016699A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Piper J3C-65 · Independence Tw, MI · September 2, 2019

Date: September 2, 2019 · 12:40 local
Place: Independence Tw, MI
Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N98278
NTSB investigation: NTSBCEN19LA297
Reported as: Piper J3C-65
Reported engine: Continental C-85
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 2
Pilot’s certificate: Private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 2,000 total60 in this make and model50 in the last 90 days

N98278Registration cancelled Dec 31, 2022 · Piper J3C-65S/N 18453 · Built 1946 Airframe modelPiper J3C-65 Engine modelContinental A&C65 seriesReciprocating

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.

On September 2, 2019 at approximately 1240 local time N98278, a J3 cub on floats, impacted terrain shortly after takeoff. The pilot (seated in the aft seat) and passenger (seated in forward seat) both sustained minor injuries and the aircraft was destroyed in a post crash fire.

A witness stated the aircraft "seemed to stop flying" prior to impacting terrain approximately 1200 feet west/southwest of departure point.

As the FAA filed it

ON SEPTEMBER 2, 2019 AT APPROXIMATELY 1240 LOCAL TIME N98278, A J3 CUB ON FLOATS, IMPACTED TERRAIN SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF. THE PILOT (SEATED IN THE AFT SEAT) AND PASSENGER (SEATED IN FORWARD SEAT) BOTH SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED IN A POST CRASH FIRE.

A WITNESS STATED THE AIRCRAFT "SEEMED TO STOP FLYING" PRIOR TO IMPACTING TERRAIN APPROXIMATELY 1200 FEET WEST/SOUTHWEST OF DEPARTURE POINT.

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 CEN19LA297Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportIndependence Charter Township, MIThe reduction in climb performance for reasons that could not be determined. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane after the loss of performance.Sep 2, 2019 · Substantial damage