# NTSB CEN20CA233: Piper J3C-65, N25702, Mount Victory, OH, June 17, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 17, 2020, 10:45 local (14:45 UTC) - Place: Mount Victory, OH - Coordinates: 40.372222, -83.511665 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3722&lon=-83.5117&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Standing-engine(s) start-up: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Stabdards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 101451 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20CA233 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101451/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101451 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA233 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate planning, and his failure to secure the airplane prior to hand-starting the engine. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061000): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061000/cases.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 113 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061000/cases.md) - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Standing-engine(s) start-up: Ground handling event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080/sequence.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 108 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080/sequence.md) - [Standing-engine(s) start-up: 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) ## Analysis The pilot stated that he hand-started the engine by turning the propeller from behind. The airplane was not chocked, but the pilot stated he had "moved the tail wheel sideways." The engine started immediately, and the airplane collided with a utility pole, causing leading edge damage to both wings. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N25702](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N25702), registered now, S/N 3666, built 1939 (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: 3666 - Year built: 1939 - Airframe hours: 1880 - Engines: Continental C-65 65 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 6, 2020, 10 hours before - Departed: 074, Mount Victory, OH - Destination: O74, Mount Victory, OH - Airport: O74, Elliotts Landing - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 82; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed; last flight review November 17, 2019; seat: none; restraint: none; flight hours: 2,664 total, 45.5 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.23 inHg - Observed at: EDJ, 17 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 20200617005969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200617005969A), Jun 17, 2020: Piper J3C-65, Mount Victory, OH, Substantial damage. Pilot rotated tailwheel sideways, set throttle, and hand propped propeller from behind, while holding on to right side of canopy. When engine started, the… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 10, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101451. 1.1 MB in all. - Pilot's Statement (item 1, .PDF, 113 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486809&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector's E-Mails (item 2, .PDF, 82 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486810&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20E-Mails-Master.PDF - GoogleEarthMap of Accident Site (item 3, .PDF, 226 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486811&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=GoogleEarthMap%20of%20Accident%20Site-Master.PDF - Accident Report Photographs (item 4, .PDF, 648 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486812&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Report%20Photographs-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.