# NTSB CHI03LA299: Piper J3C-65, N38435, South Shore, SD, September 4, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 4, 2003, 15:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: South Shore, SD - Coordinates: 45.101757, -96.932598 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.1018&lon=-96.9326&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 1, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 57914 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI03LA299 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57914/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03LA299 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A factor was the soft terrain encountered during the forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) ## Analysis The airplane impacted soft terrain during a forced landing following a loss of engine power. The pilot reported he filled the aircraft with fuel at a private airstrip just prior to takeoff. Approximately 15 minutes after departure the engine lost power. The pilot stated he pumped the throttle, and checked the fuel valve and magnetos, but was unable to get the engine restarted. The pilot stated the airplane impacted soft terrain during the forced landing. The airplane was fueled using above ground fuel tanks at the private airstrip, which is also used by an aerial application operator. There were no reports of problems with other airplanes that had been refueled using the same source. Inspection of the airplane and its engine failed to reveal any failure/malfunction that would have resulted in the loss of engine power. Fuel was added to the header tank. The engine was started and it ran up to 1,500 rpm prior to the mechanic shutting down the engine. ## Factual narrative On September 4, 2003, at 1530 central daylight time, a Piper J3C-65, N38435, contacted soft terrain during an off-airport forced landing following a loss of engine power near South Shore, South Dakota. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The flight originated from a private airstrip in Summit, South Dakota, at 1500, with an intended destination of Milbank, South Dakota. The pilot reported he had filled the aircraft with fuel at the private airstrip just prior to takeoff. Approximately 15 minutes after departure the engine lost power. The pilot stated he pumped the throttle, checked the fuel valve and magnetos but was unable to get the engine restarted. The pilot stated the airplane contacted soft terrain during the forced landing. The airplane was fueled using above ground fuel tanks at the private airstrip, which is also used by an aerial application operator. There were no reports of problems with other airplanes that had been refueled using the same source. A mechanic who inspected the airplane after the accident reported the wings and landing gear had been removed. He stated the header tank was empty as was the fuel strainer. He was unable to identify any failure/malfunction which would have resulted in the loss of engine power. The mechanic added fuel to the header tank. The engine was started and run up to 1,500 rpm prior to the mechanic shutting it down. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N38435](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N38435-2014-10-06), registration cancelled 2014-10-06, S/N 7004, built 1941 (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: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7004 - Engines: Continental A65 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Christian T. Reimche - Registered owner: Dakota Air Spray - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: PVT, Summit, SD - Destination: 1D1, Milbank, SD ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 2,120 total, 12 in this make and model, 200 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg - Observed at: ATY, 18 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 20030904024269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030904024269A), Sep 4, 2003: Piper J3C65, South Shore, SD, Substantial damage. (-23) On September 4, 2003 at 1530 CDT a Piper J3C-65 owned by dakota airspray, inc. and operated by christian reimche made an emergency landing after power… 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.