# NTSB CHI96LA198: Piper J-3, N35505, Princeton, MN, June 12, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 11, 1996, 19:40 local (Jun 12, 1996, 00:40 UTC) - Place: Princeton, MN - Coordinates: 45.569137, -93.590515 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.5691&lon=-93.5905&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 3, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10276 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI96LA198 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10276/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI96LA198 ## Probable cause Loss of engine power for an undetermined reason. ## 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 collision with object, landing - roll - Gear collapsed, landing - roll - landing gear - overload ## Analysis The pilot reported that while in cruise flight shortly after takeoff, the engine lost power. During a forced landing on a golf course, the airplane contacted a bench, and the landing gear collapsed. Postaccident inspection failed do reveal any mechanical anomalies which would have resulted in the loss of engine power. The forward fuel tank (engine feed tank) contained two to three gallons of fuel, the left wing tank contained four gallons of fuel and the right wing tank was full. ## Factual narrative On June 11, 1996, at 1940 central daylight time, a Piper J-3, N35505, operated by a commercial-instrument rated pilot collided with a park bench during a forced landing following a loss of engine power. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane received substantial damage. The local 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The flight departed from Princeton, Minnesota, at 1930 cdt. The pilot reported that shortly after takeoff, while in cruise flight at 1,000 feet above ground level, a loss of engine power was experienced. He reported that he selected a landing site and attempted to regain power by applying carburetor heat and by moving the throttle. The airplane was landed on a golf course. During the landing the airplane contacted a park bench and the landing gear collapsed. The pilot told an Inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that after the landing he could smell fuel so he shut everything off inside the airplane including the fuel valves. A post accident inspection of the airplane was conducted by inspectors from the Minneapolis, Minnesota, Flight Standards District Office of the FAA. The inspectors reported that compression was noted on all cylinders and the spark plugs produced a spark when the propeller was rotated by hand. They reported the air filter was clean and intact as was the exhaust system. The inspectors reported that the forward fuel tank contained two to three gallons of fuel, the left fuel tank contained approximately four gallons of fuel and the right fuel tank was over flowing. The pilot reported he took off with 20 gallons of fuel on board the airplane. The fuel system consists of three fuel tanks each with a fuel capacity of 12 gallons. The wing tanks are used to feed the forward tank which in turn feeds the engine. The wing tank valves would normally be in the off position unless the forward tank is being fueled from the wing tanks. Fuel system schematics show the usable fuel for each tank as 11 gallons. It also states that fuel should be transferred in level flight and only when the forward tank is less than 1/2 full. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N35505](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N35505), registered now, S/N 6410, built 1941 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper J-3 - 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: 6410 - Airframe hours: 6090 - Engines: Continental C-85-12 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Westling Leasing, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 8, 1996, 2 hours before - Departed: PNM ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: rear; flight hours: 2,900 total, 100 in this make and model, 2,721 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 5 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: CBG, 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 19960611013429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960611013429A), Jun 11, 1996: Piper J3C65, Princeton, MN, Substantial damage. Lost power. Elected land on golf course. Struck park bench. Carb icing or fuel mismanagment suspects. (-23) local pleasure flight from Princeton airport with… 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.