# NTSB CEN15CA223: Piper J3C-65, N98656, De Kalb, IL, May 3, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 3, 2015, 11:15 local (16:15 UTC) - Place: De Kalb, IL - Coordinates: 41.933887, -88.705558 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9339&lon=-88.7056&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 1, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - NTSB case key (mKey): 91141 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN15CA223 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91141/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91141 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15CA223 ## Probable cause The pilot's loss of positional awareness while taxiing, resulting in a collision with a parked and unoccupied airplane. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's difficulty seeing over the nose of the airplane, his preoccupation with trying to control the airplane in the wind, and his minimal experience in the airplane. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Sensory ability/limitation: visual function](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02011510): Personnel issues › Physical · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02011510/cases.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 32 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02011510/cases.md) - [Wind: variable wind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Ability to respond/compensate (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025/cases.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 113 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025/cases.md) - [Aircraft capability: braking capability](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061050): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061050/cases.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 57 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061050/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: total experience w/ equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025/cases.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot, who was in the rear tandem seat of the tailwheel airplane, had just landed and was taxing to the fuel pumps to refuel. He did not see the parked Beech A36 over the nose of his airplane and collided with the right wing of N4678A. The pilot said the accident could have been prevented if he had followed the taxi line on the tarmac. He also blamed his "less than effective brakes" that didn't help as he tried to control the airplane in the wind. This caused his attention to be diverted and he lost sight of the surrounding obstructions. The pilot had logged a total of 82 flight hours, of which 13 hours were in the accident airplane. ## Factual narrative The pilot, who was in the rear tandem seat of the tailwheel airplane, had just landed and was taxing to the fuel pumps to refuel. He did not see the parked Beech A36 over the nose of his airplane and collided with the right wing of N4678A. The pilot said the accident could have been prevented if he had followed the taxi line on the tarmac. He also blamed his "less than effective brakes" that didn't help as he tried to control the airplane in the wind. This caused his attention to be diverted and he lost sight of the surrounding obstructions. The pilot had logged a total of 82 flight hours, of which 13 hours were in the accident airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N98656](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N98656), registered now, S/N 18877 (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: 18877 - Year built: 1946 - Airframe hours: 1862 - Engines: CONTINENTAL C-65-8F 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Joseph A. Begany - Registered owner: Joseph A. Begany - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 28, 2015, 13 hours before - Departed: KEFT, MONROE, WI - Destination: KDKB, De Kalb, IL - Airport: KDKB, De Kalb Taylor Municipal ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; last flight review May 18, 2014; seat: rear; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 82 total, 13 in this make and model, 45 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 12 knots - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,500 ft broken - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: KDKB ## 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 20150503006251A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150503006251A), May 3, 2015: Piper J3C-65, Dekalb, IL, Substantial damage. On April 30, 2015, the pilot-in-command of N98656 a Piper J-3 cub, purchased the aircraft in park rapids (kpkd), Minnesota. The PIC, a certificated sport… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 26, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91141. 8.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40426900&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 - Accident Site (item 2, .PDF, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40426899&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Accident%20Site-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - N4678A's Right Wing and Flap Torn (item 3, .PDF, 264 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40426901&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20N4678A%27s%20Right%20Wing%20and%20Flap%20Torn-Master.PDF - Photo 3 - N98656 Drooping Right Wing, Buckled Lift Strut and Propeller Tips (item 4, .PDF, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40426902&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20-%20N98656%20Drooping%20Right%20Wing,%20Buckled%20Lift%20Strut%20and%20Propeller%20Tips-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.