# Accident 20210327011909A: Piper J3C-65, Ponder, TX, March 27, 2021

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 27, 2021, 16:00 local time
- Place: Ponder, TX
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.0831° N, 97.2948° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.0831&lon=-97.2948&mi=10
- Aircraft: N42769, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N42769-2021-10-04) (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 A&C65 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,088 total, 408 in this make and model, 1 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN21LA168](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA168) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210327011909A

## Narrative

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

ON MARCH 27, 2021 AT APPROXIMATELY 1600 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME THE PILOT OF PIPER J3C-65 N42769  BEGAN TO TURN WESTBOUND STARTING HIS APPROACH TO HIS LANDING STRIP AT XAO. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO INCREASE THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE RPM ONCE HE TURNED DOWNWIND. AS THE ENGINE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER HE APPLIED CARBURETOR HEAT. THE PILOT THEN ATTEMPTED TO LAND THE AIRPLANE IN A WHEAT FIELD. THE AIRPLANE LOST POWER TOO RAPIDLY AND AS A RESULT THE PILOT LANDED IN A TREE LINE ON THE EAST EDGE OF THE WHEAT FIELD.

THE PILOT WAS THE ONLY OCCUPANT OF THE AIRPLANE. HE WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE AIRPLANE ON HIS OWN ACCORD, AND ONLY SUFFERED A MINOR CUT TO HIS LEFT PINKY FINGER. THE AIRPLANE LANDED NOSE DOWN SUSPENDED IN THE TREES BETWEEN A BARBED WIRE FENCE AND A WIRE ELECTRIC FENCE ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^

## 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 CEN21LA168](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA168), Mar 27, 2021: Piper J3C-65 (N42769), Justin, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The total loss of engine power due to carburetor icing.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.