# NTSB CEN21FA380: Piper J3C-65, N70643, Adrian, MO, August 22, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report - Date: August 22, 2021, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Adrian, MO · Cornfield next to the departure end of the runway. - Coordinates: 38.4343, -94.44294 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.4343&lon=-94.4429&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Unknown: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Piper Aircraft Inc, Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 103743 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21FA380 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103743/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103743 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21FA380 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and impact with terrain. ## 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; 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. - [Unknown: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md) - [Unknown: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Unknown: 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’s wife reported that he departed from their private grass runway; she did not know his destination or his expected return time and became concerned when the pilot did not return by dark. The airplane was located the next morning in the middle of a cornfield about 300 yards northwest of the runway. The airplane came to rest in a nose-low, tail-high attitude. The wings and fuselage sustained substantial damage. Flight control continuity was confirmed throughout the airframe. Examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The orientation of the wreckage was consistent with impact with terrain in an aerodynamic stall. Based on negative postmortem ethanol testing results in vitreous and urine, the ethanol detected in the pilot’s blood was likely from sources other than ingestion. It is unlikely that ethanol contributed to the accident. Based on negative postmortem opioid testing results in femoral blood, it is unlikely that the pilot’s opioid use contributed to the accident. The pilot had cardiovascular disease, but available evidence is insufficient to determine whether he was impaired or incapacitated by that disease, and whether a medical condition contributed to the accident could not be determined. ## Factual narrative The private grass runway was about 1,700 ft long and 50 ft wide and was oriented north/south. On August 22, 2021, about 1300 central daylight time, a Piper J3C-65 Cub, N70643, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Adrian, Missouri. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot’s wife reported that he took off from their private grass runway about 1300 for a leisure flight. She did not watch him take off; nor did she hear anything. She did not know his destination or when to expect him back. Later that evening, she attempted to reach him, but she did not become concerned until dark. She drove their property and the surrounding area but did not find him or the airplane. The next morning, a friend found the airplane in the middle of a cornfield about 300 yards northwest of the private grass runway. There were no witnesses to the accident, and no radar information associated with the accident flight. The Forensic Medical of Kansas located in Kansas City, Kansas, performed an autopsy of the pilot. The pilot’s cause of death was multiple blunt force injuries. NMS Labs performed toxicology testing on specimens from the pilot and detected ethanol at 0.016 g/dL in femoral blood. Ethanol was not detected in vitreous. No other tested-for substances were detected. Testing of femoral blood for opioids (hydrocodone, dihydrocodeine, morphine, hydromorphone, codeine, 6-monoacetylmorphine, oxycodone, and oxymorphone) was negative. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Forensic Sciences Laboratory performed toxicological testing on specimens from the pilot. Ethanol was not detected in vitreous or urine. Hydrocodone was detected in liver at 3 ng/mL, in brain at 2 ng/mL, and in urine. Dihydrocodeine was detected in urine but not in liver or brain. Hydromorphone and morphine were detected in urine but not brain; hydromorphone and morphine results in liver were inconclusive. The airplane came to rest mostly intact in a nose-low, tail-high attitude, and was oriented on a heading of about 135°. Both wings were bent down, and the aft wing attachment points were fracture separated. The wingtips exhibited aft crush damage and came to rest touching the dirt. Flight control continuity was established throughout the airframe. The engine and firewall were pushed aft and up toward the left. The left side of the engine was wedged between the wing spar and the left wing leading edge. The propeller remained attached at the hub, and the crankshaft was bent just aft of the attachment flange. Both propeller blades were mostly straight. One blade exhibited some chordwise scratching and a slight aft bend about midspan. The other blade was mostly undamaged. The spinner was pushed aft into the hub and was cracked; it did not exhibit rotational damage. The upper spark plugs on all four cylinders were consistent with normal operations. The lower spark plugs on the rightside were oil-coated consistent with how the engine came to rest; the lower left side spark plugs were inaccessible due to airframe deformation. The valve covers were removed and were unremarkable. The ignition harness exhibited some wear but was intact. Examination of the cylinders with a borescope revealed normal combustion signatures. The propeller was rotated by hand but would only rotate 270 degrees due to airframe deformation. Thumb compression was established on cylinder No. 1, and the magneto impulse coupling was heard. Piston movement in the other three cylinders was confirmed with the borescope. The header fuel tank was empty and crushed. Borescope examination of the tank revealed a crack along its left side. The fuel strainer bowl was removed and was full of automotive fuel. Debris was noted on the bottom of the bowl. The carburetor was fracture separated from the engine and was covered in dirt. The throttle and mixture controls remained attached. When the throttle lever was manipulated by hand, automotive fuel was ejected from the accelerator pump. The fuel was drained from the carburetor during disassembly, and debris was noted; however, whether the debris was present before the accident, or a result of impact could not be determined. The bowl was removed, and minor debris was noted at the bottom of the bowl. The carburetor’s fuel inlet screen was clear of debris. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N70643](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N70643), registered now, S/N 17661, 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: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17661 - Year built: 1946 - Engines: Continental Motors O-200 SERIES 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special) - Airport: PVT, Private, runway 01/19, 1,700 × 50 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; injuries: fatal; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 28, 2020; seat: rear; toxicology performed; flight hours: 4,000 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: KLRY, 12 nm away - METAR: KLRY 221755Z AUTO 16004KT 10SM CLR 29/21 A3005 RMK AO2 ## 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 20210822013909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210822013909A), Aug 22, 2021: Piper J3C-65, Adrian, MO, Destroyed, 1 fatal. During unknown phase of flight from a private airfield, the aircraft lost engine power. The aircraft rolled left resulting in a stall of the left wing. The… ## Docket (9 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 20, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103743. 8.0 MB in all. - On scene observations (item 1, PDF, 15 pages, 4.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13676259&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=On%20Scene%20Notes-Rel.pdf - Google earth images - overview of accident area (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 823 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12816289&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=google%20earth%20images-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation - bates county sheriff's office (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 130 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12817306&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20LEO%20about%20wife-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation - wife of pilot (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 126 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12816440&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20WIfe-Rel.pdf - Record of memorandum - autopsy (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 123 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12967811&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROM%20auotpsy-Rel.pdf - Toxicological report (item 6, PDF, 2 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12814210&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=tox_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of email - NTSB medical officer (item 7, PDF, 2 pages, 125 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13675111&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROE%20medical-Rel.pdf - Statement of party representatives to NTSB investigation (item 8, PDF, 1 page, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12813652&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=party%20form%20piper_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 9, PDF, 1 page, 96 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12668074&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=wreckage%20release%20signed_Redacted-Rel.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.