# Accident 20220722022819A: Piper J3C-65, Huntington Beac, CA, July 22, 2022

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 22, 2022, 13:21 local time
- Place: Huntington Beac, CA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.6617° N, 118.0110° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6617&lon=-118.0110&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3666K, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3666K) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper J3C-65 (registry code 7100510, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3c-65) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER J3C-65
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 870 total, 97 in this make and model, 137 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR22LA268](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA268) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220722022819A

## Narrative

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

ON JULY 22, 2022, JUST AFTER 13:21 PACIFIC STANDARD TIME, U.S. REGISTERED AIRCRAFT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, A PIPER J3C-65, SERIAL # 22356, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^LOCATED IN FLORIDA CRASHED OFF THE SHORELINE WITHIN THE HUNTINGTON STATE BEACH WHILE PERFORMING AERIAL BANNER TOWING. THE AIRCRAFT WAS HEADING IN A SOUTHERLY DIRECTION PARALLEL TO THE SHORELINE. IT HAD DEPARTED FROM COMPTON AIRPORT AND FLEW NORTH ALONG THE COASTLINE PAST MALIBU THEN HEADED SOUTH TOWARDS LONG BEACH WITH A FINAL DESTINATION HUNTINGTON BEACH. THE CRASH SITE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50 YARDS FROM THE COASTLINE AND IN ABOUT 40 FEET OF WATER. ACCORDING TO LIFEGUARD WITNESSES, THE AIRCRAFT WAS MAKING A RAPID LEVEL DESCENT WHEN IT STUCK THE WATER. WITNESS REPORTED THEY DID NOT HEAR OR NOTICE IF THE ENGINE WAS OPERATING AT THE TIME OF IMPACT. MULTIPLE SWIMMERS AND SURFERS NEAR THE CRASH RENDER ASSISTANTS TO THE PILOT, WHO WAS ABLE TO SELF-EXTRACT HIMSELF FROM THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT REMAINED IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION AND WASHED TO SHORE. AT THE REQUEST OF THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION (FAA), IT WAS REQUESTED THAT THE WRECKAGE BE MOVED CLOSER TO SHORE TO AVOID THE TIDE PULLING THE AIRCRAFT BACK OUT TO SEA, HOWEVER, THE HUNTINGTON BEACH FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD PULLED IT APPROXIMATELY 300 YARDS FURTHER INLAND TO AN ASPHALT LOCATION. THE FLIGHT WAS BEING CONDUCTED UNDER 14 CFR PART 91 AND VFR CONDITIONS PREVAILED. IT APPEARS FROM THE VIDEO FOOTAGE THERE WAS COLLATERAL DAMAGE POST-ACCIDENT WHILE THE AIRCRAFT WAS IN THE RECOVERY STAGES.

THERE WAS ONE SOLE OCCUPANT ON BOARD, THE PILOT IN COMMAND, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, HOLDS A PRIVATE PILOT LICENSE, AIRPLANE MULTI ENGINE LAND, AIRPLANE SINGLE ENGINE LAND, INSTRUMENT AIRPLANE AND COMMERCIAL CERTIFICATE NUMBER ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, WITH 850 FLIGHT HOURS AND A MEDICAL DATE OF 03/10/2021. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ SUSTAINED SEVERAL MINOR INJURIES ONE TO HIS HEAD AND BOTH KNEES BRUISED. HE WAS TRANSPORTED TO A LOCAL HOSPITAL IN THE AREA FOR TREATMENT AND RELEASED LATER THAT DAY. THERE IS NO RECORDS OF PILOT ENFORCEMENT HISTORY. THE PILOT WAS NOT PRESENT AT THE TIME OF OUR ARRIVAL AND HAD LOST THE USE OF HIS CELL PHONE DUE TO WATER DAMAGE AT THE CRASH SITE. AFTER CONTACTING THE OWNER, THE INVESTIGATOR IN CHARGE (IIC) WAS ABLE TO ESTABLISH CONTACT WITH THE PILOT AND OBTAIN A POST-CRASH BRIEFING.

AVIATION SAFETY INSPECTOR, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ FROM THE LONG BEACH FSDO HAS BEEN ASSIGNED AS THE IIC. THE IIC AND FAA INSPECTOR ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^FROM THE LONG BEACH FSDO BOTH ARRIVED ON SCENE AT APPROXIMATELY 15:35 ON JULY 22, 2022, PACIFIC STANDARD TIME. THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION AND SAFETY BOARD (NTSB) WAS NOT ON SITE, HOWEVER THE IIC WAS IN CONTACT WITH INSPECTOR ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, FROM THE NTSB.

AFTER THE IIC COMPLETED THE FIELD INVESTIGATION, THE AIRCRAFT WAS RECOVERED FROM THE BEACH AND TRUCKED ON A FLATBED TO THE ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^AIRCRAFT STORAGE YARD, ^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 WPR22LA268](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA268), Jul 22, 2022: Piper J3C-65 (N3666K), Huntington Beach, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation and the pilot’s mismanagement of the available fuel at an altitude too low for recovery. Contributing was the pilot’s delayed decision to switch…

## Other reports on N3666K (1)

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

- [Accident 19870119000659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870119000659A), Jan 19, 1987: Piper J3C65 (N3666K), Hollywood, FL, Substantial damage. The aircraft stalled while maneuvering over airport for banner tow operations.

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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