# NTSB CEN11CA498: Piper J3C-65, N88000, Williams Lake, MI, July 19, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 19, 2011, 19:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Williams Lake, MI - Coordinates: 42.65903, -83.379524 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.6590&lon=-83.3795&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report October 20, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 81193 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11CA498 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81193/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81193 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA498 ## Probable cause A loss of control during approach due to the front seat passenger's belt buckle being wedged between the rear seat,the rudder pedal and floor board. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Equipment/furnishings: flight compartment equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022510): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022510/cases.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022510/cases.md) - [Flight control system: rudder control system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022720): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022720/cases.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 93 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022720/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: yaw control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024/cases.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 149 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Approach: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: 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) ## Analysis The pilot landed after performing a local flight with a passenger. The passenger, who was seated in the front seat, exited the airplane. The pilot then departed on another local flight. During the approach for landing, while turning from the base leg to final approach, he was unable to move the left rudder pedal. The airplane entered a right hand spiral and impacted a tree and terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the front seat belt buckle had jammed between the rear seat rudder pedal and floor board. ## Factual narrative The pilot landed after performing a local flight with a passenger. The passenger, who was seated in the front seat, exited the airplane. The pilot then departed on another local flight. During the approach for landing, while turning from base leg to final, he was unable to move the left rudder pedal. The airplane entered a right hand spiral and impacted a tree and terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that front seat belt buckle had jammed between the rear seat rudder pedal and floor board. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N88000](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N88000), registered now, S/N 15617, 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: 15617 - Airframe hours: 3607 - Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Pilot - Registered owner: Air N88000 Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 19, 2011 - Departed: Williams Lake, MI - Destination: Williams Lake, MI ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; injuries: serious; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: rear; flight hours: 10,000 total, 200 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Observed at: PTK, 1 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 20110719023799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110719023799A), Jul 19, 2011: Piper J3C-65, Waterford, MI, Substantial damage. Prior to the accident take-off, the accident pilot landed on williams lake and let a front seat passenger out of the aircraft then took off again to do some… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 13, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81193. 459 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 339 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353722&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation (item 2, .PDF, 50 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353737&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation-Master.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 3, .PDF, 70 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353730&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.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.