- Date
- October 29, 1995, 11:30 local (16:30 UTC)
- Place
- Rochester, IN
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N88037Piper J-3C
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 18, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19951029039209A
- Case key
- 10144
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
failure of the pilot to maintain adequate airspeed after takeoff, which resulted in a stall. A factor relating to the accident was: the gusty wind condition.
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 pilot reported that after taking off from runway 29, a wind gust at about 200 feet above ground level (AGL) caused the airplane to go to a near inverted attitude and stall. He also reported that there was insufficient altitude to recover. The pilot estimated the wind speed at 15 knots with gusts to 25 knots. Witness's estimated that the airplane began the right turn between 50 and 200 feet AGL. Two witness's reported that the airplane appeared to go into a wingover before impacting the ground.
Factual narrative
On October 29, 1995, at 1130 eastern standard time (est), a Piper J-3C, NC88037, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged during a collision with terrain, shortly after takeoff. Visual conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal 14 CFR part 91 flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot sustained serious injuries. The flight departed Rochester, Indiana, at 1129 est.
In the pilot's written statement he wrote that after departing runway 29 he initiated a right turn at 200 feet above ground level (AGL). The pilot wrote that "a wind gust blew the aircraft almost inverted." The pilot reported that the airplane then stalled, with insufficient altitude to recover. The pilot estimated the wind speed at 15 knots with gusts to 25 knots. No mechanical malfunction was reported by the pilot.
Four witnesses were interviewed by the investigator in charge and the Federal Aviation Administration. The witnesses estimated that the airplane began the right turn between 50 and 200 feet AGL. Two witnesses reported that the airplane appeared to do a maneuver similar to a wing over, before impacting the ground.
The airplane's right wing was crushed. The propeller, fuselage and engine mount were bent. The landing gear collapsed during impact.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N88037
- Reported as
- Piper J-3C
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15654
- Airframe hours
- 5,780
- Engine
- Continental C-85-12F, 85 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Don Gilliland
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · September 3, 1995 · 44 hours before
- Destination
- 3LP · Laporte, IN
- Airport
- RCR · Fulton County, runway 29, 4,400 × 60 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
- 54
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Rear
- Flight hours
- 1,336 total · 47 in this make and model · 1,290 as pilot in command · 42 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 280° at 18 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 50 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- GUS, 24 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.
Other investigations on N88037 · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.