# Accident 20190902016699A: Piper J3C-65, Independence Tw, MI, September 2, 2019

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 2, 2019, 12:40 local time
- Place: Independence Tw, MI
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 42.7568° N, 83.3512° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7568&lon=-83.3512&mi=10
- Aircraft: N98278, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N98278-2022-12-31) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper J3C-65 (registry code 7100510, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3c-65) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental A&C65 series (registry code 17003, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER J3C-65
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR C-85
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 2,000 total, 60 in this make and model, 50 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN19LA297](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19LA297) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190902016699A

## Narrative

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

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.

## 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 CEN19LA297](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19LA297), Sep 2, 2019: Piper J3C (N98278), Independence Charter Township, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The 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.

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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