# NTSB CHI95LA277: Piper J3C-65, N70369, New Prague, MN, August 12, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 12, 1995, 14:45 local (19:45 UTC) - Place: New Prague, MN - Coordinates: 44.540359, -93.569595 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.5404&lon=-93.5696&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report November 8, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9994 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI95LA277 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9994/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI95LA277 ## Probable cause the failure of the pilot to maintain adequate airspeed to permit control of the aircraft and to prevent an inadvertent stall. Contributing factors include gusty wind conditions and turbulence. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - weather condition - turbulence (contributing factor) - airspeed - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis THE PILOT OF THE FLOAT EQUIPPED AIRCRAFT REPORTED THAT THERE WAS LIGHT TO MODERATE TURBULENCE AS HE APPROACHED CEDAR LAKE FOR LANDING AND ESTIMATED THAT THE SURFACE WIND WAS SOUTHERLY AT 20 - 25 KNOTS. ON FINAL APPROACH NORTH OF THE LAKE AT AN AIRSPEED 'ADEQUATE' FOR A FLOATPLANE LANDING THE RIGHT WING DROPPED ABRUPTLY TO NEARLY A 90 DEGREE ANGLE. THE PILOT LEVELED THE WINGS BUT THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO ROLL ABRUPTLY INTO A LEFT BANK UNTIL THE AIRCRAFT WAS INVERTED. HE WAS AGAIN ABLE TO LEVEL THE WINGS HOWEVER THE AIRCRAFT FLEW THROUGH AN AREA OF TREES AND IMPACTED THE GROUND, ON SHORE, IN A WINGS LEVEL, NOSE LOW ATTITUDE. ## Factual narrative On August 12, 1995, at 1445 central daylight time, a Piper J3C-65 on floats, N70369, was destroyed when the private pilot lost control of the aircraft while maneuvering for landing and impacted terrain at Cedar Lake approximately 4 miles northeast of New Prague, Minnesota. The aircraft departed from Lake Francis near Elysian, Minnesota for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The pilot and his sole passenger received serious injuries. The pilot told investigators that there was light to moderate turbulence as he approached Cedar Lake for landing. He circled the landing area twice to check for debris on the water and estimated that the surface wind was southerly at 20 - 25 knots. The pilot stated that he had landed this (J3C) aircraft on this lake on previous occasions in comparable wind conditions and that it was within his capabilities. He then flew northbound from the lake on downwind leg and turned base leg in left-hand traffic over an area of tall trees north of the lake. On final approach at an airspeed "adequate" for a floatplane landing the pilot said that the right wing dropped abruptly to nearly a 90 degree angle. He applied left aileron control and full throttle and was able to level the wings however he reported that the aircraft continued to roll abruptly into a left bank to inverted flight. The nose of the aircraft dropped and the pilot, sensing that the impact was eminent, retarded the engine throttle to idle. He was again able to level the wings however the aircraft flew through an area of trees and then impacted the ground, on shore, in a wings level, nose low attitude. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N70369](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N70369), registered now, S/N 17353 (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: 17353 - Airframe hours: 1400 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200 90 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Kennard C. Kaplan - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 1995, 20 hours before - Departed: N/A, ELYSIAN, MN - Destination: N/A ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 3,704 total, 200 in this make and model, 3,704 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 10 knots, gusting 16 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 79 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: Y12, 13 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 19950812023179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950812023179A), Aug 12, 1995: Piper STCJ3, Cedar Lake, MN, Destroyed. Floatplane lost control maneuvering to land after indicated power loss circling lake. Impacted trees. (-23) aircraft made 2 small circle patterns over a… 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.