# NTSB CEN14CA231: Piper J3C 65, N6245H, Connersville, IN, May 3, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 3, 2014, 15:10 local (19:10 UTC) - Place: Connersville, IN - Coordinates: 39.694442, -85.132225 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6944&lon=-85.1322&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi-from runway: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report July 30, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - NTSB case key (mKey): 89179 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN14CA231 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89179/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89179 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14CA231 ## Probable cause The pilot's inability to control the airplane while taxiing due to a strong crosswind condition. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Wind: high wind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034055): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Ability to respond/compensate (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034055/cases.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 112 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034055/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Ability to respond/compensate (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 43 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi-from runway: 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) - [Taxi-from runway: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he decided to land at an en route airport to obtain fuel due to a stronger headwind than what was forecast for his route of flight. The pilot made a normal landing to the north and turned west off the runway onto the first taxi. He then made another turn to the north on the taxiway that paralleled the runway. As he taxied beyond a row of trees that were to the west, the upwind wing of the airplane lifted and the airplane flipped inverted. The rudder and left front wing strut were substantially damaged. The pilot stated he was using proper crosswind taxi technique, but was unable to keep the wing down. The wind conditions recorded at an airport located 37 miles away from the airport where the accident occurred were from 290 degrees at 16 knots gusting to 25 knots. The pilot reported the local wind condition at the time of the accident was similar. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that he decided to land at an en route airport to obtain fuel due to a stronger headwind than what was forecast for his route of flight. The pilot made a normal landing to the north and turned west off the runway onto the first taxi. He then made another turn to the north on the taxiway that paralleled the runway. As he taxied beyond a row of trees that were to the west, the upwind wing of the airplane lifted and the airplane flipped inverted. The rudder and left front wing strut were substantially damaged. The pilot stated he was using proper crosswind taxi technique, but was unable to keep the wing down. The wind conditions recorded at an airport located 37 miles away from the airport where the accident occurred were from 290 degrees at 16 knots gusting to 25 knots. The pilot reported the local wind condition at the time of the accident was similar. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6245H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6245H), registered now, S/N 19419, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER J3C 65 (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: 19419 - Year built: 1946 - Airframe hours: 3467 - Engines: CONT MOTOR C85 SERIES 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: Unknown - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Operator: Lewis Arenzana - Registered owner: Duncan Richard N - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 6, 2013, 17 hours before - Departed: CDI, Cambridge, OH - Destination: CEV, Connersville, IN - Airport: CEV, Mettel Field Airport, runway 36, 6,503 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; injuries: minor; flight instructor, airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: rear; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 8,230 total, 44 in this make and model, 3,478 as pilot in command, 118 in the last 90 days, 39 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 16 knots, gusting 25 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 29.86 inHg - Observed at: GEZ, 37 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 20140503006539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140503006539A), May 3, 2014: Piper J3C-65, Connersville, IN, Substantial damage. On may 3, 2014, at approximately 210 pm local time, N6245H, a Piper J3C-65, while on a VFR flight, was damaged after flipping upside down during taxi, at… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 26, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89179. 1.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413696&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.