# Accident 20201103021802A: Piper J3C-65, Weslaco, TX, November 3, 2020

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 3, 2020, 17:54 local time
- Place: Weslaco, TX
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Collision: Midair collision
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 26.1787° N, 97.9740° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.1787&lon=-97.9740&mi=10
- Aircraft: N87715, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N87715-2022-11-05) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper J3C-65 (registry code 7100510, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3c-65) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental C85 series (registry code 17008, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER J3C-65
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR C85 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Student
- Pilot flight hours: 95 total, 40 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN21LA040](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA040) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201103021802A

## Narrative

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

STUDENT PILOT TOOK OFF FROM RUNWAY 14 ON HIS THIRD TOUCH AND GO. HE BECAME FOCUSED ON THE INSTRUMENTATION AND ALLOWED THE AIRCRAFT TO DRIFT TO THE RIGHT (WEST) OF RUNWAY 14. AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER AIRCRAFT APPROXIMATELY 80 FEET AGL. THE SECOND AIRCRAFT HAD DECIDED TO GO AROUND AND SIDE STEP RUNWAY 14 DUE TO THE FIRST AIRCRAFT POSITION ON THE RUNWAY. NEITHER AIRCRAFT HAD RADIOS.

## Other aircraft in the event

- N6463H, Piper J3C-65: [Accident 20201103021962A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201103021962A)

## 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 CEN21LA040](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA040), Nov 3, 2020: Piper J3C (N87715), Weslaco, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot of N87715 inadvertently allowed his airplane to drift right of the runway during the climb after a touch-and-go landing, and the pilot of N6463H did not maintain adequate separation from…

## Other reports on N87715 (1)

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

- [Incident 19821009066209I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19821009066209I), Oct 9, 1982: Piper J3C65 (N87715), Harlingen, TX, Minor damage. At airshow engine quit and pilot stalled aircraft at an altitude of 15 feet, fuel outlet uncovered due to low fuel.

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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