# NTSB CEN22LA182: Piper-Harris J3C-65, N9721Y, Hartford, WI, April 21, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: April 21, 2022, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place: Hartford, WI
- Coordinates: 43.350047, -88.390241 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.3500&lon=-88.3902&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: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Flight Standards District Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 104988
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22LA182
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104988/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104988
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA182

## Probable cause

The flight instructor lost control of the airplane while taxiing in gusty wind conditions.

## 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 · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper-Harris J3C-65, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034055/cases.md?model=710051B), [All aircraft, 112 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034055/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper-Harris J3C-65, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=710051B), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: crosswind correction](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062030): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper-Harris J3C-65, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062030/cases.md?model=710051B), [All aircraft, 184 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062030/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-Harris J3C-65, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=710051B), [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-Harris J3C-65, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=710051B), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The flight instructor reported that the airplane was slowed to taxi speed after a full stop landing. While the flight instructor taxied toward the ramp during gusty wind conditions, the left wing raised up and the airplane subsequently nosed over. The vertical stabilizer and both wing struts sustained substantial damage. The flight instructor reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9721Y](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9721Y), registered now, S/N 2451 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER-HARRIS J3C-65
- Registry model: [Piper-Harris J3C-65](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-harris-j3c-65) (registry code 710051B) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 2451
- Year built: 1938
- Airframe hours: 4927
- Engines: Continental C85 85 hp reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, March 3, 2022
- Departed: HXF, Hartford, WI
- Destination: HXF, Hartford, WI
- Airport: HXF, Hartford Municipal Aiport, runway 27, 3,401 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Flight instructor; age 37; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 8, 2021; seat: front; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 699 total, 197 in this make and model, 625 as pilot in command, 57 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours
- Pilot; age 55; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 14, 2022; seat: rear; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 344 total, 14 in this make and model, 180 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 22 knots, gusting 35
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 32 °F
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observed at: KETB, 12 nm away
- METAR: KETB 211755Z AUTO 27022G35KT 230V290 10SM CLR 16/00 A3011 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 20220421005679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220421005679A), Apr 21, 2022: Piper-Harris J3C-65, Hartford, WI, Substantial damage. On April 21, 2022 at approximately 1300 CST while attempting to taxi off runway 27 after landing, a Piper J3C-65 cub experienced a gust of wind lifting the…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 10, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104988. 2.2 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13801253&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos of accident airplane (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 791 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13800750&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-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.

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