# NTSB ANC86LA077: Piper J3C-65, N1556N, Vogel Lake, AK, June 16, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 15, 1986, 18:00 local (Jun 16, 1986, 02:00 UTC)
- Place: Vogel Lake, AK
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 4678
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC86LA077
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/4678/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC86LA077

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, takeoff - initial climb
  - engine assembly,cylinder - failure,total (cause)
  - fuel system,primer system - failure,total (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - initial climb

## Analysis

AFTER TAKEOFF FROM A SMALL LAKE THE PILOT STATED THAT ENGINE STARTED TO RUN ROUGH. THE PILOT STALLED THE AIRCRAFT AND CRASHED INTO THE LAKE. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE NUMBER 4 CYLINDER PRIMER PORT PLUG WAS BROKEN.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1556N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1556N-1989-06-12), registration cancelled 1989-06-12, S/N 23088 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER J3C-65
- Registry model: [Piper J3C-65](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3c-65) (registry code 7100510) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 23088
- Airframe hours: 2772
- Engines: CONTINENTAL C-75 75 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Gregory B. Hoversten
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 1985, 0 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 29; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 90 total, 47 in this make and model, 60 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## 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 19860615024189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860615024189A), Jun 15, 1986: Piper J3C65, Vogel Lake, AK, Substantial damage. During initial climb, engine ran rough. Floatplane impacted lake after a stall. Cylinder primer port plug broken.

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.