# NTSB CEN11CA121: Piper J3C-65, N41458, Cypress, TX, October 31, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 31, 2010, 11:45 local (16:45 UTC) - Place: Cypress, TX - Coordinates: 29.985, -95.684722 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.9850&lon=-95.6847&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 16, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - NTSB case key (mKey): 78040 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11CA121 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78040/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78040 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA121 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041000): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041000/cases.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 111 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 28 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 54 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, during landing the airplane touched down to the right side of the runway centerline and bounced. It then traveled further to the right and struck a fence post, substantially damaging the wing spar. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane prior to the accident. ## Factual narrative The commercial pilot made a three point landing in his single-engine airplane but landed on the right side of the runway centerline and bounced. This caused the airplane to move further to the right toward the edge of the runway and the right wing tip struck a fence post and subsequently cracked the wing spar. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane prior to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N41458](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N41458), registered now, S/N 8095, built 1941 (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 C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 8095 - Engines: CONT MOTOR C85 SERIES 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Trace Tucker, Henry Curd andMichael Steiger - Registered owner: Trace Tucker, Henry Curd andMichael Steiger - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: TS07, Cypress, TX - Destination: TS07, Cypress, TX - Airport: TS07, Cypress, runway 18 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3; flight hours: 1,540 total, 145 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## 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 20101031054189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20101031054189A), Oct 31, 2010: Piper J3C-65, Cypress, TX, Substantial damage. Pilot stated he had accomplished a three point landing and could not see very well. He ran off the runway and contacted a fence. Damage sustained to the r/h… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 10, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78040. 537 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 537 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40341493&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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.