# NTSB ANC83FA125: Piper J-3, N88327, Soldotna, AK, July 16, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: July 15, 1983, 21:00 local (Jul 16, 1983, 05:00 UTC)
- Place: Soldotna, AK
- Coordinates: 60.32043, -150.790878 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.3204&lon=-150.7909&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 4039
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC83FA125
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/4039/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC83FA125

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, takeoff - initial climb
  - engine assembly,piston - movement restricted (cause)
  - maintenance,major repair - improper, other maintenance personnel (cause)
- Forced landing, landing - flare/touchdown
- Nose over, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ACFT NOSED OVER IN SOFT DIRT DURING A FORCED LANDING AFTER AN ENGINE FAILURE. THIS ENGINE HAD JUST BEEN OVERHAULED AND WAS ON ITS FIRST FLIGHT. THE ENGINE QUIT AT 1200 FT, DURING TAKEOFF CLIMB. THE PROP STOPPED ROTATING AND ASSUMED A HORIZONTAL POSITION. IT WAS FOUND DURING ENGINE TEARDOWN THAT THE ENGINE HAD AN OUT OF ROUND CYLINDER. THE BOTTOM OF #1 CYLINDER WAS SCORED IN A MANNER THAT COINCIDED WITH SCORING ON THE PISTON SKIRT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N88327 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER J-3
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15945
- Airframe hours: 3414
- Engines: CONTINENTAL C-85-12 85 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Richard G. Reierson
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 25, 1982, 27 hours before
- Destination: ANC, ANCHORAGE, AK

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 380 total, 1 in this make and model, 300 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 270° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 39 °F

## 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 19830715036089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830715036089A), Jul 15, 1983: Piper J3C65S, Soldotna, AK, Substantial damage. Crash occurred during emergency landing after engine failure. This was first flight after engine overhaul.

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.