# NTSB ANC04CA082: Piper J3C, N3458N, Palmer, AK, July 22, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 21, 2004, 16:00 local (Jul 22, 2004, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Palmer, AK - Coordinates: 61.343334, -148.823333 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.3433&lon=-148.8233&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report September 29, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 59707 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC04CA082 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59707/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC04CA082 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate evaluation of the wind conditions which resulted in an encounter with a downdraft during the takeoff/initial climb, and subsequent collision with trees and terrain. Factors contributing to the accident were the presence of a downdraft, and mountainous terrain features. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - weather evaluation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor) - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor) - In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled - object - tree(s) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) ## Analysis The private certificated pilot was departing an old airstrip located along a creek. The creek area is located in a canyon in mountainous terrain. The pilot said that when he began his departure, the wind was blowing from the south about 20 knots. The pilot reported that he departed toward the south and during the initial climb, about 500 feet above the ground, the airplane encountered a downdraft, and descended and collided with several trees along the creek bed. The airplane then collided with uneven terrain and received damage to the landing gear, wings, and fuselage. The pilot said that after the crash, he exited the airplane and began removing survival equipment and his global positioning system (GPS) receiver. As he walked near the front end of the airplane, he said that a gust of wind lifted the tail of the airplane and blew it over, on top of him. ## Factual narrative On July 21, 2004, about 1600 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire-equipped Piper J3C airplane, N3458N, sustained substantial damage when it collided with trees and the ground during the initial climb after takeoff from a remote mountainous area, about 17 miles southeast of Palmer, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the pilot. The private certificated pilot, the sole occupant, received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan was filed, nor was one required for the intended flight to Wasilla, Alaska. At 2127, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) was notified by FAA personnel that an emergency locator transmitter (ELT) signal was being received in the area of mountainous terrain, and search aircraft had located an overturned airplane in a canyon area. A rescue helicopter landed near the accident and picked up the pilot. During a telephone conversation with the NTSB IIC on July 22, the pilot reported that he landed along a creek area at an old airstrip. The airstrip was oriented north/south at an elevation of about 1,600 feet msl. The pilot said that when he began his departure, the wind was blowing from the south about 20 knots. The pilot reported that he departed toward the south and during the initial climb, about 500 feet above the ground, the airplane encountered a downdraft, and descended and collided with several trees along the creek bed. The airplane then collided with uneven terrain and received damage to the landing gear, wings, and fuselage. The pilot said that after the crash, he exited the airplane and began removing survival equipment and his global positioning system (GPS) receiver. As he walked near the front end of the airplane, he said that a gust of wind lifted the tail of the airplane and blew it over, on top of him. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3458N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3458N-2015-05-20), registration cancelled 2015-05-20, S/N 22676, built 1947 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper J3C - Registry model: [Piper J3C-65](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3c-65) (registry code 7100510) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C90 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (registry code 17009, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 22676 - Engines: Continental O-200 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Ronald E. Hills - Registered owner: Ronald E. Hills - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: Palmer, AK - Destination: PAWS, Wasilla, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3; flight hours: 1,987 total, 1,350 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 20 knots, gusting 30 ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20040721018499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040721018499A), Jul 21, 2004: Piper J3C65, Palmer, AK, Destroyed. (-23) On July 21, 2004, Mr. Ronald hills was the pilot in command of N3458N a PA-J3. Mr. Hills departed VFR from a remote strip located at N61.28W 148.50.… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.