ATL88LA202

NTSB accident investigation · Piper J3C-65 · Whitsett, NC · June 28, 1988

Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
June 28, 1988, 17:30 local (21:30 UTC)
Place
Whitsett, NC
Injuries
1 minor
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Initial climb
Aircraft
N2875YPiper J3C-65
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report December 3, 1989
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19880628023899A
Case key
7779

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanicalTakeoff - initial climb
Weather condition - carburetor icing conditionsFactor
Powerplant controls - improper use ofPilot in commandCause
Fuel system,carburetor - iceCause
Forced landingDescent - emergency
In flight collision with terrain/waterManeuvering - turn to landing area (emergency)
Maneuver - attempted
Airspeed - inadequatePilot in commandFactor

Analysis

The plt reported that the engine lost power during initial climb at 150 ft AGL. He attempted to make a 180 deg turn back to the arpt; the airplane crashed at about the 180 deg point. Post-crash exam of the engine revealed no evidence of mechanical failure or malfunction. No evidence of fuel contamination was found. The operator reported that the acft was stc'd for autogas & was fueled w/ a 50/50 mix of avgas and autogas. He noted that he had advised the plt just prior to departure that the engine was prone to carb ice and that conditions were favorable for carb ice formation. He subsequently observed that the plt allowed the engine to idle for several minutes prior to beginning the t/o roll. Exam of icing probability curves revealed that reported wx conditions were favorable for serious icing at glide pwr settings. FAA advisory circular 91-33A notes that FAA testing has indicated that carb ice will occur faster and at higher temps w/ autogas than avgas.

Aircraft

Registration
N2875Y
Reported as
Piper J3C-65
Category
Airplane
Serial number
22384
Engine
Continental A-65-8, 65 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
William F. Via
Registered owner
Via, William F
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Airport
NC19 · Meadowlark Gliderport, runway 18, 2,000 × ft, asphalt

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
29
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Front
Flight hours
320 total

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
250° at 8 knots
Visibility
15 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
82 °F, dew point 55 °F
Altimeter
29.00 inHg
Observed at
GSO

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.