# Accident 20231117018609A: Piper J3C-65, Buffalo, MN, November 17, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 17, 2023, 13:45 local time
- Place: Buffalo, MN
- Airport: Buffalo Municipal
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Rollout
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 45.1597° N, 93.8433° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.1597&lon=-93.8433&mi=10
- Aircraft: N30494, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N30494) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper J3C-65 (registry code 7100510, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3c-65) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental C85-8 (registry code 17119, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-8) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER J3C-65
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR C85-8
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 600 total, 125 in this make and model, 8 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN24LA041](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA041) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20231117018609A

## Narrative

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

THE PIC AND ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^WERE PERFORMING MULTIPLE TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN. BEFORE COMMENCING THE LAST APPROACH FOR A FULL-STOP LANDING, THE PIC TOOK OVER THE CONTROLS AS THE WINDS WERE REACHING THE PERSONAL LIMITS OF BOTH PILOTS. THE APPROACH AND INITIAL TOUCHDOWN WERE UNEVENTFUL.  DURING THE LANDING ROLL-OUT, THE AIRCRAFT WEATHERVANED INTO THE WIND AND THE AIRCRAFT EXITED THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. THE PIC ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT BY USING LEFT BRAKE AS THE RUDDER IS INEFFECTIVE BELOW APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH.  MARKS IN THE GRASS SHOWED THAT THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AT ABOUT A 30° ANGLE AND AN ATTEMPTED CORRECTION. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A TAXIWAY SIGN CAUSING THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR TO COLLAPSE AND THE RIGHT WINGTIP TO IMPACT THE GROUND.  THE AIRCRAFT HAD SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT WING STRUT AND THE RIGHT WING ROOT BY PARTIALLY SEPARATING. TWO PERSONS ON-BOARD. NO INJURIES.

## 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 CEN24LA041](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA041), Nov 17, 2023: Piper J3C (N30494), Buffalo, MN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll with a quartering headwind.

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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