# Accident 20220112000549A: Piper J3C-65, Winterhaven, FL, January 12, 2022

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 12, 2022, 14:27 local time
- Place: Winterhaven, FL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 28.0522° N, 81.7113° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.0522&lon=-81.7113&mi=10
- Aircraft: N88509, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N88509) (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&C85 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor, private pilot, student
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA22LA107](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA107) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220112000549A

## Narrative

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

ON JANUARY 12, 2022, AT 1427 EST (19:27 Z), WHILE ON AN INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT, THE PIPER J3C, N88509, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^IMPACTED THE GROUND IN AN ORANGE GROVE IN WINTER HAVEN, FLORIDA.  A WITNESS STATED THE AIRCRAFT PITCHED UP AND BANKED TO THE RIGHT ENOUGH TO SEE THE ENTIRE TOP OF THE AIRCRAFT CLIMBED TO 200 TO 300 FEET AND PITCHED DOWN TOWARDS THE GROUND WHERE IT IMPACTED. THE PILOT IN COMMAND OF THE AIRCRAFT CURRENTLY DOES NOT HAVE ANY RECOLLECTION OF THE FLIGHT.  VISUAL METROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME.  THE AIRCRAFT RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE FUSELAGE AND LEFT WING.  THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR AND STUDENT WERE BOTH SERIOUSLY INJURED AND WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL.

THIS REPORT FILLED OUT FOR INITIAL REPORTING PURPOSES ONLY, WILL AMEND UPON RECEIPT OF FURTHER INFORMATION.

## 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 ERA22LA107](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA107), Jan 12, 2022: Piper J3C (N88509), Winter Haven, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot receiving instruction’s failure to maintain airspeed during a turn, which resulted in an exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack and a subsequent aerodynamic stall.…

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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