# Accident 20200830018939A: Piper J3C-65, Hartford, WI, August 30, 2020

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 30, 2020, 17:30 local time
- Place: Hartford, WI
- Airport: Hartford Municipal
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Rollout
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 43.3489° N, 88.3903° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.3489&lon=-88.3903&mi=10
- Aircraft: N88204, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N88204) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper J3C-65 (registry code 7100510, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3c-65) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental C90-12F (registry code 17183, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-12f) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER J3C-65
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR C90-12F
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Sport pilot, student
- Pilot flight hours: 63 total, 48 in this make and model, 17 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN20LA436](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20LA436) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200830018939A

## Narrative

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

ON AUGUST 30, 2020 AT 1730 CST, A PIPER J3 CUB N88204 PILOTED BY A RECREATIONAL PILOT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED WHILE LANDING AT HARTFORD MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (HFX) WISCONSIN IN AN UNAPPROVED AREA OF THE AIRPORT. THE PILOT STATED THE LANDING WAS NORMAL HOWEVER HE CHOSE TO CONTINUE TO TAXI AFTER TOUCHDOWN AND STRUCK A RUNWAY IDENTIFIER LIGHT AND BROKE OFF THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR/ WHEEL ASSEMBLY. THE AIRCRAFT SKIDDED OFF TO THE RIGHT OF THE LANDING AREA AND CAME TO REST ON THE FUSELAGE HEADING WEST ON THE PARALLEL TAXIWAY. THE PILOT RECEIVED NO INJURIES. THE AIRCRAFT WAS BEING OPERATED BY THE OWNER AS A PERSONAL FLIGHT UNDER 14 CFR PART 91. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THIS ACCIDENT.

THE REQUIREMENT TO REPORT THIS ACCIDENT WAS NOT FOLLOWED BY THE PILOT AFTER THIS ACCIDENT. HE STATED HE WAS UNAWARE OF THE NTSB REQUIREMENT AND WAS TOLD BY SEVERAL PEOPLE THAT THIS WAS A "TAXI SITUATION" AND THEREFORE DID NOT HAVE TO BE REPORTED. IT WAS REPORTED TO THE MILWAUKEE FLIGHT STANDARD DISTRICT OFFICE AND NTSB FOR PROCESSING ON DECEMBER 1, 2020.

## 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 CEN20LA436](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20LA436), Aug 30, 2020: Piper J3 (N88204), Hartford, WI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s loss of situation awareness which resulted in landing in a grass area and the subsequent collision with a runway marker.

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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