- Date
- August 19, 2003, 12:30 local (16:30 UTC)
- Place
- Tocsin, IN
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N37923Piper J3C-65
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 2, 2004
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration - South Bend FSDO
- FAA report
- 20030819021429A
- Case key
- 57782
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot attempting the low altitude turn and his failure to maintain clearance from the corn crop. A factor to the accident was the corn crop.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The airplane collided with a corn crop while turning onto crosswind, and was subsequently destroyed during the ensuing post-impact fire. The pilot stated that after liftoff he initiated a left turn onto crosswind and the "left wingtip caught the cornfield which pulled my aircraft to the ground." The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures during the accident flight.
Factual narrative
On August 19, 2003, at 1230 eastern daylight time, a Piper J3C-65, N37923, piloted by an airline transport pilot, was destroyed during a post-impact fire following an in-flight collision with a corn crop while on initial climb from runway 36 (2,900 feet by 60 feet, turf) at The Lazy K Airport (0IN2), Tocsin, Indiana. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot and his passenger reported no injuries. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident.
According to the pilot's written statement, the purpose of the flight was to conduct touch-and-go landings at 0IN2. The pilot stated that after liftoff he initiated a left turn onto crosswind and the "left wingtip caught the cornfield which pulled my aircraft to the ground."
The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures during the accident flight.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N37923
- Reported as
- Piper J3C-65
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 6706
- Airframe hours
- 10,088.94
- Engine
- Continental A-75, 75 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · March 29, 2003 · 30.33 hours before
- Departed
- 0IN2 · Tocsin, IN
- Destination
- 0IN2 · Tocsin, IN
- Airport
- 0IN2 · The Lazy K Airport, runway 36, 2,900 × 60 ft, grass/turf
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 29
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Last flight review
- May 30, 2003
- Seat
- Rear
- Flight hours
- 5,000 total · 50 in this make and model · 2,800 as pilot in command · 240 in the last 90 days · 85 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Variable at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 81 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.20 inHg
- Observed at
- FWA, 10 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.