# NTSB CEN22LA348: Piper J3C-65, N42584, Sturgeon Lake, MN, July 29, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: July 29, 2022, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place: Sturgeon Lake, MN
- Coordinates: 46.3811, -92.8238 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.3811&lon=-92.8238&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: 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 FSDO MSP
- NTSB case key (mKey): 105631
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22LA348
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105631/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105631
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA348

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during takeoff from a gravel driveway resulting in an impact with a tree.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041000): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041000/cases.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 111 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041000/cases.md)
- [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Takeoff: 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 reported that he was taking off from a private gravel driveway when the airplane’s right wheel went off the edge of the driveway into a drainage ditch. The airplane subsequently veered to the right, crossed a road, and impacted a small tree. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operations.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N42584](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N42584), registered now, S/N 14865, built 1945 (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: 14865
- Year built: 1945
- Engines: Continental A-75 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Schwandt Mary A
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 2022, 2,120 hours before
- Departed: OSH, Oshkosh, WI
- Destination: Y49, Walker, MN
- Equipment: Stall warning system

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 74 °F

## 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 20220729013579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220729013579A), Jul 29, 2022: Piper J3C-65, Sturgeon Lake, MN, Substantial damage. Airman departed oshkosh WI (kosh) after camping there for the airshow for several days. On the way to a family cabin near bemidji MN he was getting low on gas…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 13, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105631. 2.2 MB in all.

- NTSB form 6120 pilot operator report CEN22LA348 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14525401&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120%20Pilot%20Operator%20Report%20CEN22LA348_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for the record pilot and witness statement summaries CEN22LA348 (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 139 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14525119&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20the%20Record%20Pilot%20and%20Witness%20Statement%20Summaries%20CEN22LA348_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photo array CEN22LA348 (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 993 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14525129&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20CEN22LA348-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.