# NTSB CEN12LA381: Piper J3C-65, N7075H, Farmersville, OH, June 18, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 18, 2012, 15:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Farmersville, OH - Coordinates: 39.695835, -84.448333 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6958&lon=-84.4483&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report November 26, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA-CIN-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 84028 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12LA381 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84028/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84028 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA381 ## Probable cause The pilot did not maintain directional control of the airplane on takeoff after noting reduced engine power in high density altitude. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Engine (reciprocating)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 497 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md) - [Temp/humidity/pressure: high density altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Not specified; cases with it: [All aircraft, 278 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airplane departed with a left crosswind that was 15 knots gusting to 20 knots. After liftoff, the wind pushed the airplane to the right of the runway. The pilot leveled the airplane and continued on a heading 45 degrees from the runway heading. The pilot reported the airplane “felt underpowered” and the tachometer was indicating 2,050 rpm. He noted a line of trees in front of him that he was not going to be able to clear. He then made an abrupt turn toward a more heavily wooded area. He stated he decided to contact the tree tops in a large wooded area instead of contacting a single tree. The airplane contacted the tree tops and descended to the terrain. A postaccident inspection of the airplane and engine did not reveal any mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have resulted in degraded engine power as reported by the pilot. The accident airport elevation was 914 feet. Based on the recorded weather data, the corresponding density altitude was about 3,265 feet and carburetor icing should not have been a factor. High density altitude can reduce an airplane's climb capability. ## Factual narrative On June 18, 2012, at 1530 eastern daylight time, a Piper J3C-65, N7075H, collided with trees shortly after takeoff from the McIntosh Airport (OH59), Farmersville, Ohio. The pilot was seriously injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The flight was originating at the time of the accident and the intended destination of Springfield, Ohio. The pilot departed runway 27 and reported that after liftoff a gust of wind pushed the airplane to the right side of the runway. The pilot was able to level the airplane and continued on a heading 45 degrees from the runway heading. Once out of ground effect, the airplane “felt underpowered.” He stated he looked at the engine controls and everything was normal except the tachometer was indicating 2,050 rpm. The pilot stated he planned to make a 180 turn, but decided not to because of the lack of altitude and wind condition. As he continued straight ahead (45 degrees from the runway heading), he noted a line of trees in front of him which he was not going to be able to clear. He then made an abrupt turn toward a more heavily wooded area. He stated he decided to contact the tree tops in a large wooded area instead of contacting a single tree. The pilot stated that he pulled back on the control stick just as the airplane was encountering the tops of the trees. The airplane impacted the tree tops and descended to the terrain. The pilot reported that had he maintained the runway heading, he may have been able to land the airplane back on the runway. A postaccident inspection of the aircraft and engine was conducted by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors. There were no mechanical failures/malfunctions identified that would have resulted in the degraded engine power as reported by the pilot. The closest weather reporting facility to the accident site was at the Middletown Regional Airport (MWO) Middletown, Ohio, which was located approximately 12 miles south-southeast of the accident site. At 1535 the weather conditions were recorded as: wind from 230 degrees at 15 knots gusting to 20 knots; 10 miles visibility; clear skies; temperature 31 degrees Celsius; dewpoint 21 degrees Celsius; and altimeter 29.94 inches of mercury. FAA guidance noted a possibility of serious carburetor icing at glide power under those conditions. The accident airport elevation was 914 feet. Based on the recorded weather data, the corresponding density altitude was about 3,265 feet. ## Aircraft - Registration: N7075H (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: PIPER J3C-65 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 20304 - Airframe hours: 314 - Engines: Continental A-65-8 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Calvert Jared C - Registered owner: Calvert Jared C - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: OH59, Farmersville, OH - Destination: SGH, Springfield, OH - Airport: OH59, McIntosh Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 25; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; last flight review August 1, 2010; seat: rear; flight hours: 722 total, 148 in this make and model, 722 as pilot in command, 108 in the last 90 days, 32 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 15 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: MWO, 12 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 20120618014359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120618014359A), Jun 18, 2012: Piper J3C-65, Farmersville, OH, Substantial damage. Departed runway westbound with gusty winds. Airplane experienced poor rate of climb, attempted a turn then descended into the trees and landed inverted. ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 21, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84028. 1.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 855 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40375490&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 51 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40375468&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Record of Conversations - FAA (item 3, .PDF, 54 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40375469&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversations%20-%20FAA-Master.PDF - Carburetor Icing Probability Chart (item 4, .PDF, 67 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40375473&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Carburetor%20Icing%20Probability%20Chart-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.