# NTSB CHI03LA125: Piper J3C-65, N70971, Wilmot, WI, May 14, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 13, 2003, 19:00 local (May 14, 2003, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Wilmot, WI - Coordinates: 42.514167, -88.205276 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.5142&lon=-88.2053&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA-Milwaukee-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 56999 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI03LA125 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56999/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03LA125 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power for an undetermined reason, and the unsuitable terrain encountered for the forced landing. A factor was the fence. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, go-around (vfr) - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - fence (contributing factor) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - encountered (cause) - Nose over, emergency descent/landing ## Analysis The airplane was damaged when it struck a barbed wire fence during a forced landing following a loss of engine power during a go-around. The pilot reported that the engine lost power during the climb-out and he set up for a forced landing. The engine subsequently began producing power again and the pilot attempted to return to the airport. The engine again stopped producing power and a forced landing was executed during which a barbed wire fence was struck causing the airplane to nose over. No anomalies were found with respect to the airplane. Evidence indicating the presence of fuel was found at the accident site. ## Factual narrative On May 13, 2003, about 1900 central daylight time, a Piper J3C-65, N70971, piloted by a commercial pilot, sustained substantial damage when it struck a fence and nosed over during a forced landing. The airplane experienced a loss of engine power while performing a go-around at the Westosha Airport, Wilmont, Wisconsin. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The pilot was not injured. The flight originated from the Palwaukee Municipal Airport, Wheeling, Illinois about 1835. The pilot reported that he performed a go-around and initially, the engine responded normally. He said that after gaining about 150 feet of altitude, the engine started to sputter and the rpm's dropped. He said that he was unable to maintain altitude and selected a field in which to perform a forced landing. When the airplane was about 75 feet above ground level, engine power returned and the pilot elected to attempt to return to the airport. The pilot reported that he was able to climb for about 10 to 20 seconds before the engine rpm again dropped. The pilot executed a forced landing, during which the airplane impacted a barbed wire fence and nosed over. The pilot reported that he departed PWK with 5 gallons of fuel on board. The total fuel capacity of the airplane is 12 gallons. No pre-impact anomalies were found during a postaccident examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector. No fuel was recovered from the aircraft fuel tank, however, evidence of fuel staining was found on the ground beneath the fuel tank. A weather reporting station about 11 nautical miles northwest of the accident site recorded the temperature and dewpoint as 16 degrees Celsius, and 2 degrees Celsius respectively. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N70971](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N70971), registered now, S/N 18001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper J3C-65 - Registry model: [Piper J3C-65](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3c-65) (registry code 7100510) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18001 - Airframe hours: 3536 - Engines: Continental A-75-8 75 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 24, 2002, 6 hours before - Departed: PWK, Wheeling, IL - Destination: 5K6, Wilmot, WI - Airport: WI10, Westosha, runway 3, 2,849 × 38 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review September 25, 2002; seat: rear; flight hours: 865 total, 49 in this make and model, 789 as pilot in command, 66 in the last 90 days, 26 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 100° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: BUU, 11 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 20030513010989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030513010989A), May 13, 2003: Piper J3C65, Wilmot, WI, Substantial damage. (-23) During a rejected landing to runway 3 at westosha airport (5K6), engine responded to full throttle application by developing full power. During the… 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.