# NTSB CHI02CA250: Piper PA-J3-C65, N7744B, Sparta, IL, July 9, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 9, 2002, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Sparta, IL - Coordinates: 38.148887, -89.698608 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.1489&lon=-89.6986&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 4, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 55576 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI02CA250 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55576/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55576 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02CA250 ## Probable cause The CFI's failure to maintain directional control during landing roll and the unsuccessful attempt at a go around. A factor was the ditch. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - go-around - not successful, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor) ## Analysis The airplane sustained substantial damage when it impacted a ditch during landing roll. The CFI reported that the flight was an introductory tail wheel instructional flight. He reported, "Student pilot flew aircraft under my direction through several flight maneuvers for initial orientation. He also approached the airport for our initial landing on runway 27 at SAR. Upon turning final for the runway I took full control of the aircraft to demonstrate a 3 point landing. All went well until aircraft started an uncontrollable right turn on the runway. I applied full opposite control but was unable to recover so I chose to initiate a go around but could not gain flying speed before encountering a drainage ditch adjacent to the runway. Power was removed and aircraft was damaged in the drainage ditch." ## Factual narrative On July 9, 2002, at 1500 central daylight time, a Piper PA-J3-C65, N7744B, sustained substantial damage during landing roll when it veered off the left side of runway 27 (2,450 feet by 135 feet, turf) and impacted a ditch. The certified flight instructor (CFI) and student pilot were not injured. The 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight had departed the Sparta Community-Hunter Field Airport (SAR), Sparta, Illinois, on a local flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The CFI reported that the flight was an introductory tail wheel instructional flight. He reported, "Student pilot flew aircraft under my direction through several flight maneuvers for initial orientation. He also approached the airport for our initial landing on runway 27 at SAR. Upon turning final for the runway I took full control of the aircraft to demonstrate a 3 point landing. All went well until aircraft started an uncontrollable right turn on the runway. I applied full opposite control but was unable to recover so I chose to initiate a go around but could not gain flying speed before encountering a drainage ditch adjacent to the runway. Power was removed and aircraft was damaged in the drainage ditch." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7744B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7744B), registered now, S/N 9265, built 1957 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-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: 43-570 - Engines: Continental C-85-8FJ reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Marvin Campbell - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: SAR, Sparta, IL - Airport: SAR, Sparta Community Airport, runway 27 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 54; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1; flight hours: 5,450 total, 125 in this make and model, 200 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days - Student pilot; injuries: none ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 24, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55576. 298 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 298 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40461247&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.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.