# NTSB ATL05LA111: Piper J3C-65, N6912H, Yadkinville, NC, June 23, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 23, 2005, 15:20 local (19:20 UTC) - Place: Yadkinville, NC - Coordinates: 36.101943, -80.675834 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1019&lon=-80.6758&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report October 27, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Greensboro FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 61790 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL05LA111 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61790/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL05LA111 ## Probable cause The pilots failure to maintain adequate clearance from object and inadequate visual look-out while maneuvering resulted in an in-flight collision with power lines. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, maneuvering - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - object - wire,transmission - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The airplane was observed maneuvering low along highway 601, buzzing a worker on a tractor. While maneuvering the airplane collided with two transmission lines. It appeared that the pilot applied full power and the airplane pitched up dramatically. The power lines became tangled around the left wing, the airplane rolled over inverted, came over the top and collided with the ground. The post-accident examination of the airplane revealed that all flight control surfaces were attached, and there was continuity on all flight controls surfaces. Post-accident examination of the airplane did not reveal any mechanical failure. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On June 23, 2005 at 1520 eastern daylight time, a PiperJ3C-65, N6912H, an unregistered airplane operated by a private owner, struck power lines and collided with the ground in Yadkinville, North Carolina. The flight was operated under provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and a flight plan was not filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage and the student pilot was fatally injured. The flight originated from Mocksville, North Carolina, at an undetermined time on June 23, 2005. According to witnesses, the airplane was observed maneuvering low along highway 601 and Huntsville Road, buzzing a worker on a tractor. While maneuvering low the airplane struck two transmission lines, one at 28 feet and one at 24 feet above the ground. According to the witnesses, it appeared that the pilot applied full power and the airplane pitched up dramatically. The power lines became tangled around the left wing, the airplane rolled inverted, came over the top and collided with the ground. PERSONNEL INFORMATION A review of records on file with the Airmen Certification Branch, Federal Aviation Administration, Oklahoma City, revealed the pilot was issued a student pilots certificate on March 03, 2004. He was issued a third class medical certificate issued March 3, 2004, with no restrictions. The student pilot had accumulated over 1000 flight hours. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION The last registration for the airplane on file with the Federal Aviation Administration was to a private owner on July 01, 1983. The airplane was sold in 1988 but was never re-registered to the new owner. There was no additional maintenance records in the Federal Aviation Administration data base after the sale of the airplane in 1988. The airplane had been modified with a Continental O-200 engine, but there is no record of the modification in the airplane records that are on file. The original certification of the airplane revealed that it was originally equipped with a Continental 65 horse power engine. METEORLOGICAL INFORMATION At 1453, the Smith Reynolds Airport, Winston Salem, North Carolina weather reporting facility, located 10 miles north of the accident site, reported winds variable directions at four knots, visibility of 10 statute miles, few clouds at 6,000 feet, temperature 29 degrees Celsius, and dew-point 12 degrees Celsius, and an altimeter setting of 30.15 inches of mercury. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION Post-accident examination of the wreckage revealed spar damage to the left wing. The aileron remained attached to left wing. The fabricated covering on the wing was shredded from there root to the wing tip. The right wing exhibited damage and the aileron remained attached. The engine was compressed below the fuselage and the engine firewall was buckled. The post-accident examination of the airplane revealed that all flight control surfaces were attached. Post-accident examination established continuity on all flight controls surfaces. The magnetos switch was found in the both position, the control column was in the full aft position, and the throttle was in the full forward position. Post-accident examination of the airplane did not reveal any mechanical failure. MEDICAL AND TOXICOLOGICAL INFORMATION The Yadkin Country Medical Examiner, Yadkinville, North Carolina, performed the autopsy of the pilot on June 24, 2005. The reported cause of death of the pilot was "multiple traumatic injuries." A postmortem toxicology of specimens of the pilot was performed. The results were negative for ethanol. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6912H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6912H-2012-06-27), registration cancelled 2012-06-27, S/N 20144, built 1946 (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 A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 20144 - Engines: Continental O-200 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: George P Scarlett - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: fatal; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,000 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg - Observed at: int, 32 nm away ## 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 20050623013999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050623013999A), Jun 23, 2005: Piper J3C65, Yadkinville, NC, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. (-23) Aircraft dropped below tree line over open field adjacent to hwy 601, traveling south to north. At the end of the field, the aircraft turned south and… 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.