- Date
- September 6, 2009, 17:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place
- Mondovi, WI
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N3549WPiper J3C-65
- Defining event
- Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 15, 2009
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA-MSP-FSDO
- FAA report
- 20090906025889A
- Case key
- 74669
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while in the traffic pattern, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that the left wing stalled while turning from base leg to final while practicing takeoffs and landings. The airplane impacted the ground short of the approach end of the runway. The pilot reported the airplane was heavier than he was used to and that it was a hot, humid day.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that the left wing stalled while turning from base leg to final while he was practicing takeoffs and landings. The airplane impacted the terrain short of the approach end of the runway. The pilot reported the airplane was heavier than he was used to and that it was a hot, humid day.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3549W
- Reported as
- Piper J3C-65
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 6398
- Airframe hours
- 2,276
- Engine
- Cont Motor C-85-12, 85 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- William J. Ward
- Registered owner
- William J. Ward
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · November 18, 2008
- Departed
- WS69 · Mondovi, WI
- Destination
- WS69 · Mondovi, WI
- Airport
- WS69 · Log Cabin Airport, runway 36, 2,500 × 50 ft, grass/turf
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
- 50
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- June 9, 2008
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 375 total · 150 in this make and model · 328 as pilot in command · 15 in the last 90 days · 15 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 190° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 5,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 75 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.15 inHg
- Observed at
- eau, 20 nm away
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 1, 2009, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 582 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.