# Accident 20240212001119A: Piper J3C-65, South Lyon, MI, February 12, 2024

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 12, 2024, 12:30 local time
- Place: South Lyon, MI
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 42.4329° N, 83.6933° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4329&lon=-83.6933&mi=10
- Aircraft: N87965, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N87965) (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
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,817 total, 517 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN24LA113](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA113) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240212001119A

## Narrative

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

ON FEBRUARY 12, 2024, A PIPER CUB DEPARTED 1D2 ENROUTE TO A PRIVATE AIR STRIP FOR LANDING PRACTICE. ON THE FIRST APPROACH TO THE FIELD, THE AIRCRAFT WAS IN A LEFT PATTERN FOR RUNWAY 36 AND LINED UP ON FINAL. AT TREE LEVEL, THE PILOT REPORTED FEELING A WIND PUSH THE AIRCRAFT TO THE LEFT, AT WHICH TIME THE LEFT WING CLIPPED AN OVERHANGING BRANCH, WHICH TURNED THE AIRCRAFT APPROXIMATELY 90 DEGREES TO THE LEFT, AND RESULTED IN THE AIRCRAFT STRIKING A LARGE TREE.

## 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 CEN24LA113](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA113), Feb 12, 2024: Piper J3C-65 (N87965), South Lyon, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from trees during the landing approach.

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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