# Accident 20210805013449A: Piper J3C-65, Gosport, IN, August 5, 2021

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 5, 2021, 20:00 local time
- Place: Gosport, IN
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.3489° N, 86.6680° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.3489&lon=-86.6680&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6269H, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6269H) (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 A65
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,425 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN21LA359](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA359) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210805013449A

## Narrative

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

ON AUGUST 5, 2021, AT APPROXIMATELY 2000 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, A PIPER J3C AIRCRAFT, N6269H, LANDED IN A BEAN FIELD APPROXIMATELY FIVE MILES NORTHWEST OF GOSPORT, INDIANA.  THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED AND AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.  THE AIRPLANE WAS REGISTERED TO MR. FRANCIS BALZER AND OPERATED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS PART 91 AS A PERSONAL FLIGHT.  DAYLIGHT VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED FOR THE FLIGHT, WITH NO FLIGHT PLAN FILED.  THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM THE PAM?S PLACE AIRPORT (78I), EMINENCE, INDIANA.

THE PILOT STATED HE WAS ON A FLIGHT DOING TAKEOFF AND LANDINGS AT NUMEROUS AIRPORTS AND HEADED BACK TO HIS HOME AIRSTRIP.  HE SAID THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING FINE UNTIL HE HEARD A BANG, AT WHICH POINT THE AIRCRAFT STARTED TO VIBRATE.  HE REDUCED THE ENGINE POWER AND AS HE WAS LOOKING FOR SOMEWHERE TO LAND THE ENGINE QUIT AND HE LANDED IN A BEAN FIELD.  DUE TO THE HEIGHT OF THE BEANS, THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER ONTO ITS BACK, DAMAGING THE TOP OF THE RUDDER.

## 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 CEN21LA359](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA359), Aug 6, 2021: Piper J3C-65 (N6269H), Gosport, IN, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power during cruise flight due to the failure of a cylinder exhaust valve stem, which led to a forced landing during which the airplane impacted terrain.

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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