# NTSB CHI01LA114: Piper J3C-65, N6460D, Gary, IN, April 8, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 8, 2001, 09:00 local (14:00 UTC) - Place: Gary, IN - Location: 41.5934° N, 87.3464° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Gary, IN, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5934&lon=-87.3464&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 2, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 52041 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI01LA114 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52041/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI01LA114 ## Probable cause The inadequate preflight performed by the pilot which resulted in an insufficient fuel supply and the subsequent fuel exhaustion. Factors associated with the accident were the inaccurate fuel quantity indicator, the rock which resulted in the overload failure of the right main landing gear, and the embankment which the airplane traveled down. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - fuel supply - inadequate - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - engine instruments,fuel quantity gage - inaccurate - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - rock(s)/boulder(s) (contributing factor) - Main gear collapsed, landing - roll - landing gear,main gear - overload (contributing factor) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - drop-off/descending embankment (contributing factor) ## Analysis The airplane contacted a rock and directional control was lost during a forced landing following a loss of engine power. The pilot reported the engine quit while he was six miles out over the water from the shoreline of Lake Michigan. The pilot reported he was able to temporarily restore engine power as he positioned the airplane for a forced landing. The right main gear separated from the airplane during the landing roll after it contacted a large rock. The airplane came to rest part way down an embankment. Examination of the airplane after the accident revealed the carburetor had separated from the engine; however, there was no evidence of fuel leakage at the accident site. One and one-half ounces of fuel were drained from the fuel line between the header fuel tank and the fuel selector. The fuel gages indicated the right tank was empty and the left tank contained 1/3 tank of fuel. A visual inspection of both tanks revealed they were empty. The airplane had been modified with an extended range fuel system. The airplane had not been flown since September, 2000. The pilot reported that three days prior to the accident, he noticed fuel leaking out of the carburetor. He reported that he was told by a mechanic and the airplane owner that the float needle was stuck and that he should tap the carburetor with a wrench. He reported he did this, then flew the airplane around the traffic pattern. The airplane then sat until the day of the accident. The pilot reported he did not visually check the fuel level prior to takeoff on the accident flight. ## Factual narrative On April 8, 2001, at 0900 central daylight time, a Piper J3C-65, N6460D, operated by a commercial pilot, collided with the terrain during a forced landing on a road in Gary, Indiana. The forced landing followed a loss of engine power. The pilot was not injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The flight originated from Merrillville, Indiana, at 0850 central standard time, with an intended destination of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The pilot reported he performed an aircraft preflight and called flight service prior to departing Merrillville. He stated that he intended to fly along the Lake Michigan shoreline at 3,000 feet. The pilot reported that about 6 miles north of the Gary Airport, Gary, Indiana, while over Lake Michigan, the engine quit. He reported that he was in level flight when this occurred. The pilot reported, "I restored engine power when I positioned the engine throttle close to idle position, then restored full power for a short time. (I cycle[d] through this situation all the way to the forced landing) I informed the tower, that I was trying to make the airport. Switched tanks valve, with no change in power pattern. In overall I just had an increased [sic] in the glide ratio caused by the low and high power setting. I informed the tower that I was going to land on the industrial complex north of the airport." The pilot reported that he chose a road on which to land. He said that after approximately 150 feet of ground roll, the right main landing gear struck a "big" rock on the edge of the road. The landing gear separated from the airplane and the airplane slid to the right, traveling part way down an embankment. The carburetor was separated from the airplane during the impact. The right wing came to rest on the ground. The fuselage was buckled above the cockpit. The airplane was examined by an inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration, South Bend , Indiana, Flight Standards District Office. The inspector reported that there was no evidence of fuel leakage at the accident site. The inspector drained 1 1/2 ounces of fuel from the fuel line between the header fuel tank and the fuel selector. He reported that the fuel gages indicated the right tank was empty and the left tank contained 1/3 tank of fuel. He reported, however, a visual inspection of both tanks revealed they were empty. The airplane had been modified with an extended range fuel system. The airplane had not been flown since September, 2000. The pilot reported that three days prior to the accident, he noticed fuel leaking out of the carburetor. He reported that he was told by a mechanic and the airplane owner that the float needle was stuck and that he should tap the carburetor with a wrench. He reported he did this, then flew the airplane around the traffic pattern. The airplane then sat until the day of the accident. The pilot reported to the FAA inspector that he did not visually check the fuel level prior to takeoff on the accident flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6460D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6460D), registered now, S/N 19640, built 1947 (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 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 19640 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Registered owner: Aerial Two, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Departed: 05C, Merrillville, IN - Destination: Milwaukee, WI ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review April 21, 2000; seat: center; flight hours: 10,000 total, 60 in this make and model, 9,000 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 12 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 29.89 inHg - Observed at: GYY ## 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 20010408014449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010408014449A), Apr 8, 2001: Piper J3C65, Gary, IN, No damage. (.19)On April 9, 2001, at 0927 central standard time, a Piper J3C-65, N6460D, operated by a commercial pilot, collided with the terrain during a forced landing… 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.