# NTSB CEN24LA113: Piper J3C-65, N87965, South Lyon, MI, February 12, 2024

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: February 12, 2024, 11:50 local (16:50 UTC)
- Place: South Lyon, MI · Airplane came to rest suspended in trees.
- Coordinates: 42.43291, -83.6933 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4329&lon=-83.6933&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490)
- 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: Federal Aviation Administration - East Michigan FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 193779
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN24LA113
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193779/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193779
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA113

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from trees during the landing approach.

## Findings

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

- [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md)
- [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that while on final approach to a private airstrip the airplane drifted left of the runway centerline. Before he could take corrective action, the airplane’s left wing impacted trees adjacent to the airstrip. The airplane came to rest suspended nose down in the trees with substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer, rudder, and the left wing and its wing strut. A postaccident review of available weather data indicated the reported surface wind was calm-to-3 knots and of variable direction at the time of the accident. The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operations.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N87965](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N87965), registered now, S/N 15583, 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: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15583
- Year built: 1946
- Airframe hours: 1952
- Engines: Continental A-65-8 65 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 2, 2023, 21 hours before
- Departed: 1D2, Canton, MI
- Destination: PVT, South Lyon, MI
- Airport: PVT, Private, runway 36, 2,000 × 55 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment: None

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 71; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 15, 2023; seat: rear; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,817 total, 517 in this make and model, 1,583 as pilot in command, 5.4 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 19 °F
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Turbulence: Unknown
- Observed at: ARB, 13 nm away
- METAR: KARB 121653Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 02/M07 A2993 RMK AO2 SLP144 T00171067=

## 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 20240212001119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240212001119A), Feb 12, 2024: Piper J3C-65, South Lyon, MI, Substantial damage. On February 12, 2024, a Piper cub departed 1D2 enroute to a private air strip for landing practice. On the first approach to the field, the aircraft was in a…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 30, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193779. 9.4 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16953562&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Report%206120%20CEN24LA113_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photo array (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 5.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16948975&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20%20CEN24LA113-Rel.pdf
- Weather summary (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 104 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16992951&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Weather%20Summary%20CEN24LA113-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.