# NTSB CHI01LA201: Piper J3-C65, N3253N, West Fargo, ND, June 11, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 10, 2001, 20:00 local (Jun 11, 2001, 01:00 UTC) - Place: West Fargo, ND - Coordinates: 46.870838, -96.889579 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.8708&lon=-96.8896&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 10, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Fargo FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 53267 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI01LA201 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53267/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI01LA201 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadequate preflight planning and the unsuitable landing area selected by the pilot. Additional factors were the uneven terrain and the failed float assembly in overload. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid, landing - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) - landing gear,float assembly - overload (contributing factor) ## Analysis The floatplane sustained substantial damage when it landed on a grass field, subsequently collapsing the float rigging and damaging the wing. The pilot reported, "... upon slide out, aircraft turned abruptly to line 90 degrees, side loading floats. Bending struts on floats, prop struck float, wingtip struck ground when float struts gave way." The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane. A witness who worked at the airport reported the grass field adjacent to the airport had been mowed so the pilot could land. He reported the pilot was the first person to land on the grass at that airport. ## Factual narrative On June 10, 2001, at 2000 central daylight time, a Piper J3-C65 floatplane, N3253N, sustained substantial damage when it landed on a grass field adjacent to the West Fargo Utility Airport (D54), West Fargo, North Dakota. The personal flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The aircraft departed at 1930 from the runway with the aid of dollies on the float rigging of the airplane. It flew around the traffic pattern and proceeded to land on the grass, subsequently collapsing the float rigging and damaging the wing. The private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot reported, "... upon slide out, aircraft turned abruptly to line 90 degrees, side loading floats. Bending struts on floats, prop struck float, wingtip struck ground when float struts gave way." The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane. A witness who worked at D54 reported the grass adjacent to the airport had been mowed so the pilot could land. He reported the pilot was the first person to land on the grass at that airport. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3253N](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3253N), registered now, S/N 22444, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper J3-C65 - 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: 22444 - Airframe hours: 5665 - Engines: Continental C-90-8FJ 90 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Lee Erickson - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 6, 2001, 1 hours before - Departed: D54, Fargo, ND - Destination: Fargo, ND - Airport: D54, West Fargo Municipal ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review November 11, 2000; seat: front; flight hours: 787 total, 117 in this make and model, 717 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 29.69 inHg - Observed at: FAR, 5 nm away ## 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 20010610017049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010610017049A), Jun 10, 2001: Piper J3C65, West Fargo, ND, No damage. (-23) Pilot/owner departed hard surfaced runway at West Fargo Utility Airport with float equipped aircraft. Aircraft was on detachable wheeled dollys which… 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.