- Date
- June 25, 2007, 19:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place
- Grand Ledge, MI
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N2364KPiper J3F-65
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 25, 2007
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA-Grand Rapids FSDO
- FAA report
- 20070625014699A
- Case key
- 66137
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's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff resulting in a ground loop.
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 tailwheel airplane was substantially damaged when it ground looped during takeoff. The pilot stated that he "lost control" while attempting to correct a drift to the left during takeoff on runway 27 (3,200 feet by 100 feet, asphalt). The airplane ground looped and "went up on its nose" before coming to rest. The left main landing gear collapsed during the accident sequence. The pilot reported light and variable winds during the accident takeoff. Winds recorded at Capital City Airport, located about 6 miles east of the accident site, were from 170 degrees at 6 knots. The pilot reported no failures or malfunctions associated with the airplane prior to the accident. He noted that he "should have been more alert and reacted quicker to the drift."
Factual narrative
The airplane was substantially damaged when it ground looped during takeoff. The pilot stated that he "lost control" while attempting to correct a drift to the left during takeoff on runway 27 (3,200 feet by 100 feet, asphalt). The airplane ground looped and "went up on its nose" before coming to rest. The left main landing gear collapsed during the accident sequence. The pilot reported light and variable winds during the accident takeoff. Winds recorded at Capital City Airport, located about 6 miles east of the accident site, were from 170 degrees at 6 knots. The pilot reported no failures or malfunctions associated with the airplane prior to the accident. He noted that he "should have been more alert and reacted quicker to the drift."
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2364K
- Reported as
- Piper J3F-65
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 3108
- Airframe hours
- 3,383
- Engine
- Continental C-85-12F, 85 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Premier Flight LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 1, 2006
- Departed
- 4D0 · Grand ledge, MI
- Airport
- 4D0 · Abrams Municipal, runway 27, 3,200 × 75 ft, asphalt
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
- 65
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- June 1, 2007
- Seat
- Rear
- Flight hours
- 7,363 total · 87 in this make and model · 7,494 as pilot in command · 16 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 170° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 86 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.12 inHg
- Observed at
- LAN, 6 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.