# NTSB CHI96LA312: Piper J3C-65, N23176, Urbana, IL, August 21, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 21, 1996, 18:56 local (23:56 UTC) - Place: Urbana, IL - Coordinates: 40.099842, -88.20005 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0998&lon=-88.2001&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious - Status: Completed, report May 23, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10375 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI96LA312 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10375/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI96LA312 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain airspeed. A factor was the diverted attention of the pilot. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - turn to reverse direction - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor) - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - crop ## Analysis The pilot was giving rides in the airplane, and conducting the third ride of the day. While on the climb he noticed what he thought to be an unusual engine sound. He continued the climb and told his passenger that he would return to the airport. He then initiated a turn to land in the opposite direction on the runway he had just departed. At about the 180-degree point of the turn the airplane departed controlled flight and impacted the terrain in a cornfield. ## Factual narrative On August 21, 1996, at 1856 central daylight time, a Piper J3C-65, N23176, sustained substantial during impact with the terrain following impact with the terrain shortly after takeoff. The airplane was departing to the east from a private turf runway eight miles north of Urbana, Illinois. The pilot suffered serious injuries while the passenger received fatal injuries. The personal 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan was on file. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. During a direct interview with the pilot and in his written statement, the pilot stated that he had given two rides in the accident airplane and was climbing out to the east on the third ride, when he thought that the engine did not sound right or that he heard an unusual noise. He said that after sensing that there might be something wrong with the engine, it continued to produce power and he was still able to maintain a climb. He then told his passenger that he was going to return to the airport and at the same time initiated a turn to land to the west on the runway he had just departed from, but in the opposite direction. He said that at the 180 degree point of the turn, he remembered going down into the cornfield. He said that the airplane had been inspected in May of 1996, and since that time, he had never experienced any mechanical difficulties with the accident airplane. Federal Aviation Administration inspectors examined the airplane the day after the accident and found no mechanical anomalies which they could associate with other than impact damage. There was a strong odor of fuel and no reason could be found to indicate a power loss for the engine. The airplane wreckage was released to a representative of the owner on September 5, 1996. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N23176](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N23176-2018-03-26), registration cancelled 2018-03-26, S/N 2956 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper J3C-65 - Registry model: [Piper J3C-65](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3c-65) (registry code 7100510) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2956 - Airframe hours: 2656 - Engines: Continental A-65-8F 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: David H. Mennenga - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 22, 1996, 12 hours before - Departed: NONE ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: rear; flight hours: 505 total, 67 in this make and model, 412 as pilot in command, 31 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 4 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: KCM, 8 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 19960821023879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960821023879A), Aug 21, 1996: Piper J3C65, Urbana, IL, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. Giving rides. On climbout unusual engine noise. Turned back to runway and stalled. Impact fatal for passenger. (-23) the pilot stated that during climb out… 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.