# NTSB ANC95FA063: Piper J3C-65, N32708, Palmer, AK, June 3, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report - Date: June 3, 1995, 14:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Palmer, AK - Coordinates: 61.619388, -148.980895 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.6194&lon=-148.9809&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report November 30, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2582 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC95FA063 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2582/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC95FA063 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S INADVERTENT STALL. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S EMOTIONAL REACTION TO THE VEHICLE TRAVELLING THROUGH HIS YARD. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - turn to reverse direction - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - emotional reaction, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis THE PILOT LIVES ADJACENT TO AN AIRSTRIP AND A VEHICLE DROVE ACROSS THE AIRSTRIP AND HIS YARD AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. HE WAS VERY AGITATED AND ELECTED TO FLY HIS AIRPLANE IN SEARCH OF THE VEHICLE. DURING HIS FLIGHT HE MADE AN ABRUPT PULL UP AND STEEP BANK AND LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. THE LEFT WING STRUCK THE TERRAIN AND THE AIRPLANE CRASHED. ## Factual narrative On June 3, 1995, at 1400 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Piper J3C-65 airplane, N32708, registered to and operated by the pilot, crashed near the mouth of Jim Creek and Knik River, near Palmer, Alaska. The personal flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91, departed the Butte Airstrip for a local flight. No flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The private certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was seriously injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. According to the pilot, he lives adjacent to the Butte airstrip. On the day of the accident, a vehicle with young adults traveled down the airstrip and across his property at a high rate of speed. He elected to fly his airplane in search of the vehicle. He was flying low along the sandbars and shoreline of the Knik River. He pulled up abruptly attempting to reverse his direction of flight. The pilot stated that as soon as he pulled up he knew he was in trouble. His airspeed began to bleed off and the airplane began a descent. He added full power. The airplane continued its descent and the left wing dragged the ground and the airplane crashed onto the sand. The pilot stated he was very agitated at the "young adults" who drove through his yard and he wanted to find them. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N32708](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N32708), registered now, S/N 5541 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER J3C-65 - Registry model: [Piper J3C-65](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3c-65) (registry code 7100510) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 5541 - Airframe hours: 7604 - Engines: LYCOMING O-235-C 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Huppert, Gerald P. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, October 14, 1994, 80 hours before - Departed: BUTTE AIRSTRIP, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 1,795 total, 1,500 in this make and model, 1,730 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °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 19950603017829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950603017829A), Jun 3, 1995: Piper J3C65, Palmer, AK, Substantial damage. Flying low to seek vehicle that drove accross private strip. Pulled up to reverse course. Stalled. Crashed on sand. ## Other investigations on N32708 (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 ANC67F0086](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC67F0086), Feb 11, 1967: Piper J3C (N32708), Talkeetna, AK, substantial damage 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.