# NTSB ATL04LA006: Piper J-3 -C65, N38272, Jackson, TN, October 4, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 4, 2003, 13:35 local (18:35 UTC) - Place: Jackson, TN - Coordinates: 35.599998, -88.916664 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.6000&lon=-88.9167&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 28, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Memphis FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 58093 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL04LA006 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58093/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL04LA006 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper us of flight controls during an attempted takeoff, which resulted in an collision with the specially equipped automobile. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, takeoff - flight controls - improper use of, pilot in command (cause) - object - vehicle - In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - terrain condition - runway ## Analysis According to the pilot he was involved in an air show performance of a car top takeoff and landing routine. The pilot stated that after performing the landing and waving to the crowd, he and the driver of the car lined up at the departure end of the runway and proceeded to start the take off roll. The tail of the airplane lifted off as expected. The driver of the car was to reach 43 miles per hour. the pilot stated he was watching for the latching mechanism to release the left main landing gear tire assembly first, then the right main landing gear tire. During the actuation of the release system, the forward section of the wheel stops fall forward and down to a point just below parallel with the ramps. After the tires were released he applied full power and pulled back on the control stick. The airplane rolled forward into the concave wheel stops. The tail wheel struck a support tube on the car just above the rear window then bounced slightly. For a brief moment the tail wheel was free from the structure on the car before once again becoming entangled in the left hand ramp on the car. At this point, forward movement became lateral movement to the left. As the airplane rotated and rolled to the left, the left hand elevator contacted the outside of the left hand ramp and was crushed, twisting the entire empennage. The left wing tip dipped and struck the ground. ## Factual narrative On October 4, 2003, at 1335 central daylight time, a Piper J-3, N38272, registered to and operated by the commercial pilot, collided with an object on the stunt car during an attempted takeoff at an air show at the McKellar-Sipes Regional Airport in Jackson, Mississippi. The exhibition flight was being conducted under the provision of Title 14 CFR Part 91 and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The pilot was not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight originated at the McKellar-Sipes Regional Airport Jackson, Mississippi, on October 4, 2003, at 1330. According to the pilot he was involved in an air show performance of a car top takeoff and landing routine. The pilot stated that after performing the landing and waving to the crowd, he and the driver of the car lined up at the departure end of the runway and proceeded to start the take off roll. The tail of the airplane lifted off as expected. The driver of the car was to reach 43 miles per hour. the pilot stated he was watching for the latching mechanism to release the left main landing gear tire assembly first, then the right main landing gear tire. During the actuation of the release system, the forward section of the wheel stops fall forward and down to a point just below parallel with the ramps. After the tires were released he applied full power and pulled back on the control stick. The airplane rolled forward into the concave wheel stops. The tail wheel struck a support tube on the car just above the rear window then bounced slightly. For a brief moment the tail wheel was free from the structure on the car before once again becoming entangled in the left hand ramp on the car. At this point, forward movement became lateral movement to the left. As the airplane rotated and rolled to the left, the left hand elevator contacted the outside of the left hand ramp and was crushed, twisting the entire empennage. The left wing tip dipped and struck the ground with the airplane approximately 90-degrees to the initial direction of travel. The left main landing gear contacted the ground and collapsed. The right main land gear collapsed and the prop struck the ground simultaneously. At this point the nose of the aircraft was 180-derees from the direction of travel. The airplane continued sliding down the runway spinning an additional 360-degrees before coming to rest again pointing 180-degrees to the intended takeoff direction. The pilot immediately egressed the airplane uninjured. Damage consisted of the left front spar, left rear spar, left main landing gear leg, right main landing gear leg, propeller, engine, left horizontal stabilizer left elevator right horizontal stabilizer leading edge vertical stabilizer leading edge and the tail wheel assembly. Airplane maintenance logbooks were not recovered for examination. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N38272](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N38272), registered now, S/N 6898, built 1941 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper J-3 -C65 - Registry model: [Piper J3C-65](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3c-65) (registry code 7100510) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C90-8F](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-8f) (registry code 17181, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 6898 - Engines: Continental C-90 95 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Air race/show, Part 91 - Operator: Paul W. Johnson - Registered owner: Wright Attitudes Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic - Departed: MKL, Jackson, TN - Destination: MKL, Jackson - Airport: MKL, McKellar-Sipes Regional, runway 11, 3,540 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: rear; flight hours: 520 total, 75 in this make and model, 520 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: MKL ## Other investigations on N38272 (2) 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 MIA99LA131](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA99LA131), Apr 17, 1999: Piper J-3C (N38272), Jackson, MS, no damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The failure of the airshow aerial performer to maintain a grip on the airplane's externally mounted rope ladder for unknown reasons and his failure to install and use a safety line resulting in his… - [NTSB BFO91LA051](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO91LA051), May 26, 1991: Piper J3C 65 (N38272), Quinton, VA, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE CLEARANCE FROM A MOVING AIRCRAFT. 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.