# NTSB CEN23LA229: Piper J3C-65, N42220, Salem, WI, June 5, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: June 5, 2023, 18:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place: Salem, WI
- Coordinates: 42.61, -88.16
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.6100&lon=-88.1600&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 192321
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA229
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192321/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192321
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA229

## Probable cause

The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing and the left main landing gear collapse.

## Findings

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

- [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); 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.

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that she landed hard on the left main landing gear, which resulted in the landing gear collapse. The left wing contacted the ground, and the airplane spun 180°. A post- accident inspection revealed that there was substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N42220](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N42220), registered now, S/N 14470, 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: 14470
- Year built: 1945
- Airframe hours: 2930
- Engines: Continental C-85-12F 85 hp reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 12, 2023
- Departed: 57C, East Troy, WI
- Airport: PVT, Private
- Equipment: Unknown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 60; injuries: minor; sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: rear; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 391 total, 391 in this make and model, 352 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 60° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observed at: KMKE, 24 nm away
- METAR: KMKE 052252Z 06011KT 10SM FEW018 SCT085 BKN250 24/19 A2998

## 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 20230605006869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230605006869A), Jun 5, 2023: Piper J3C-65, Salem, WI, Substantial damage. Salem, WI (4WN9): [privacy data omitted] J3C-65, landed hard resulting in a broken landing gear, broken wing spar, and a prop strike. POB: 1, injuries: minor,…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 31, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192321. 2.3 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15933911&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=1620%20form%20filled%20rev1_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 110 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15933608&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=photo%20array-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.