# Accident 20210203000359A: Piper J3F-50, Weidman, MI, February 3, 2021

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 3, 2021, 16:50 local time
- Place: Weidman, MI
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Other, Specify
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 43.7206° N, 85.0022° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.7206&lon=-85.0022&mi=10
- Aircraft: N26811, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N26811) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper J3F-50 (registry code 7100528, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3f-50) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Franklin 4AC150-50 (registry code 27003, https://openairdocs.org/engine/franklin-4ac150-50) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER J3F-50
- Reported engine: FRANKLIN 4AC150-50
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 3,000 total, 400 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN21LA123](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA123) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210203000359A

## Narrative

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

ON FEBRUARY 03, 2021 AT 16:50 LOCAL TIME, A PIPER J-3F50 AIRCRAFT, NC26811, REGISTERED TO AND OPERATED BY A COMMERCIAL RATED PILOT, RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHEN IT IMPACTED TERRAIN DURING A RUNWAY FLY-BY AT THE OJIBWA AIRPARK (D11), WEIDMAN, MICHIGAN. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS AND LIGHT WINDS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PERSONAL FLIGHT WAS BEING CONDUCTED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS (CFR) PART 91 WITHOUT A FLIGHT PLAN.  THE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED. THE LOCAL FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM THE MOUNT PLEASANT MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (MOP) APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.

ACCORDING TO THE PILOT HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO COMPLETE A FLY-BY OF THE SNOW COVERED GRASS RUNWAY AT OJIBWA AIRPARK WITH NO INTENTION TO LAND. NEAR THE MIDWAY POINT OF THE RUNWAY, THE AIRCRAFT ALTITUDE WAS ALLOWED TO SINK TO THE POINT THAT THE LEFT MAIN GEAR TIRE MADE CONTACT AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS ?SUCKED? INTO 12 INCHES OF PACKED AND SOFT SNOW. THE AIRCRAFT IMMEDIATELY NOSED OVER WITH THE PROPELLER AND ENGINE COWL MAKING CONTACT WITH THE GROUND. THE PILOT ALSO STATED THE AIRCRAFT HAD ALMOST COME TO A STOP WHEN THE TAIL CAME OVER WITH THE AIRCRAFT COMING TO REST INVERTED ON THE RUNWAY SURFACE. THE PILOT WAS THE SOLE OCCUPANT AND WAS UNINJURED DURING THE ACCIDENT.

PHOTOGRAPHS SHOW LEADING EDGE AND WING SPAR DAMAGE TO THE LEFT WING. THE PROPELLER BLADES ARE BENT AFT WITH CORD WISE SCRATCHING ON BOTH. THE ENGINE COWL SHOWS CRUSH DAMAGE INTO THE BOOT COWL WITH UPWARD BENDING OF THE ENGINE MOUNT. THE RUDDER AND VERTICAL STABILIZER BOTH SHOW CRUSH DAMAGE. THE PILOT REPORTED NO MECHANICAL ANOMALIES PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.

WEATHER REPORT AT KMOP AIRPORT AT 2055 UTC WAS: WIND 260 DEGREES AT 5 KNOTS, VISIBILITY 10 STATUTE MILES, CLEAR, TEMP 04 DEW POINT -10 AND ALTIMETER 30.00.

## 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 CEN21LA123](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA123), Feb 3, 2021: Piper J3F-50 (N26811), Weidman, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from terrain during a low approach over a snow-covered runway. Contributing to the accident was the loss of depth perception due to the bright sunlight and…

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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