# NTSB ATL02LA086: Piper J-3, N31118, Carrollton, GA, April 14, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 14, 2002, 19:15 local (23:15 UTC) - Place: Carrollton, GA - Coordinates: 33.633056, -85.153335 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6331&lon=-85.1533&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 20, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Atlanta FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 54529 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL02LA086 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54529/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54529 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL02LA086 ## Probable cause The pilots failure to maintain flying speed that resulted in an inadvertent stall. ## 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 landing area (emergency) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis According to the pilot, during his take off he noticed the smell of oil, and saw smoke coming down the right side of the fuselage. The pilot returned to the airport for a precautionary landing to runway 36. When the pilot reduced power for landing the airplane stalled and collided with the ground. ## Factual narrative On April 14, 2002, at 1915 eastern daylight time, a Piper J-3, N31118, registered to a private owner, collided with the runway during a precautionary landing at Falcons Aerie, Carrollton Georgia. The personal flight was operated by a private pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane was substantially damaged and the private pilot received no injuries. The flight originated at Carrollton, Georgia, at 1900. According to the pilot, after he departed the private strip to the south, he side stepped the runway to the right for a downwind pattern. During his turn for downwind he noticed the smell of oil, and saw smoke coming down the right side of the fuselage. All instruments checked good, and he elected to return to the airport to assess the problem. While on short final to land on runway 36 the airplane was to the right of the runway centerline. The pilot turned left to correct back to the centerline. When the pilot reduced the throttle, the airplane stalled and impacted the ground. Examination of the airplane revealed all flight controls were present. All cables were intact, and no mechanical malfunctions were noted. The left wing spars were broken on impact. The engine continued to run on impact, but the wooden propeller was shattered. The left landing gear was separated from the fuselage, and the fuselage had twisted from impact. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N31118](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N31118), registered now, S/N 5336, built 1940 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper J-3 - Registry model: [Piper J3F-65](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3f-65) (registry code 7100536) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Franklin 4AC176B series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/franklin-4ac176b-series) (registry code 27006, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 5336 - Airframe hours: 702 - Engines: Franklin 4AC1767B SER 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: CTJ, Carrollton, GA - Airport: 8GA8, Falcons Aerie, runway 360, 2,400 × 80 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 33; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review December 15, 2001; seat: front; flight hours: 702 total, 30 in this make and model, 517 as pilot in command, 125 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.13 inHg - Observed at: ATL, 10 nm away ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 28, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54529. 77 KB in all. - Supplement S (item 1, .PDF, 65 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40165943&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Supplement%20S-Master.PDF - Weather Data (item 2, .PDF, 12 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40165944&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Data-Master.PDF 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.