# Accident 20220421005679A: Piper-Harris J3C-65, Hartford, WI, April 21, 2022

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 21, 2022, 13:00 local time
- Place: Hartford, WI
- Airport: Hartford Municipal
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Taxi
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 43.3500° N, 88.3902° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.3500&lon=-88.3902&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9721Y, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9721Y) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper-Harris J3C-65 (registry code 710051B, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-harris-j3c-65) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER-HARRIS J3C-65
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR C85-12F
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 697 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN22LA182](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA182) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220421005679A

## Narrative

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

ON APRIL 21, 2022 AT APPROXIMATELY 1300 CST WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TAXI OFF RUNWAY 27 AFTER LANDING, A PIPER J3C-65 CUB EXPERIENCED A GUST OF WIND LIFTING THE LEFT WING. THE AIRCRAFT WENT UP ON THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT, CONTINUED ROTATING ENDING UP ON THE TOP SIDE OF THE AIRCRAFT JUST OFF RUNWAY 27 AT HARTFORD MUNICIPAL AIRPORT, HARTFORD, WI (HXF) ENDING UPSIDE DOWN IN THE GRASS. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE TAIL SECTION, WINGS AND FUSELAGE.  THE PILOT (INSTRUCTOR) AND STUDENT WERE ABLE TO EXIT THE AIRCRAFT WITH NO REPORTED INJURIES. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THIS ACCIDENT.

THE CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR (PIC) WAS GIVING CURRENCY TRAINING TO A PRIVATE PILOT IN A TAILWHEEL AIRCRAFT. THE WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE FAVORABLE FOR FLIGHT THAT MORNING. THE FORECAST FOR LATER THAT AFTERNOON STATED INCREASED WINDS WITH  POSSIBLE GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS. THE FLIGHT LESSON WAS CONCLUDING AFTER 1. 5 HOURS OF TRAINING. THEY LANDED ON RUNWAY 27 AND CAME TO A FULL STOP. SHE COMMENTED THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE DOING ANY SPECIAL MANEUVERS (S-TURNS)TO GET THE AIRCRAFT BACK TO THE HANGER. SHE WAS AWARE OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS WITH PROPER PLACEMENT FOR THE WEATHER CONDITIONS.  THEY WERE TAXIING AT A SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 5 MILES PER HOUR ON THE RUNWAY. A GUST OF WIND CAME UP AND LIFTED THE LEFT WING AND THE AIRCRAFT ROTATED UP ON THE NOSE/ ENGINE AREA. THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO ROLL OVER AND ENDED UP ON THE TOP SIDE OF THE FUSELAGE OFF THE RUNWAY IN THE GRASS (UPSIDE DOWN). BOTH OCCUPANTS WERE ABLE TO EXIT THE AIRCRAFT WITH NO REPORTED INJURIES.

DURING THE INTERVIEW THE NEXT DAY, SHE COMMENTED THAT THE WEATHER FORECAST WAS INACCURATE AND THAT THE WINDS WERE GUSTING AROUND 35 MILES PER HOUR WHICH WAS GREATER THAN WHAT WAS FORECASTED. THE INSTRUCTOR CONFIRMED THAT SHE WAS AWARE OF THE CONDITIONS AND ADJUSTED HER TAXI PROCEDURES TO SAFELY RETURN TO THE HANGER. SHE COMMENTED THAT WINDY CONDITIONS PREVAILED HOWEVER THE GUST OF WIND WAS NOT FORESEEN OR CONTROLLABLE DURING TAXIING OF THE AIRCRAFT.

## 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 CEN22LA182](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA182), Apr 21, 2022: Piper-Harris J3C-65 (N9721Y), Hartford, WI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight instructor lost control of the airplane while taxiing in gusty wind conditions.

## Other reports on N9721Y (1)

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

- [Incident 20130705011259I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130705011259I), Jul 5, 2013: Piper-Harris J3C-65 (N9721Y), Lomira, WI, No damage. At approximately 1915Z on 7/5/2013 [privacy data omitted], the pilot in command and sole occupant of N9721Y executed a forced landing in a farm field near…

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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