# NTSB CHI98LA071: Piper J-3, N32737, Valley Center, KS, December 17, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 17, 1997, 16:20 local (22:20 UTC) - Place: Valley Center, KS - Coordinates: 37.829299, -97.370094 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.8293&lon=-97.3701&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report May 21, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10812 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI98LA071 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10812/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA071 ## Probable cause the pilot's excessive pull up after lift-off and failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the initial climb, which resulted in a stall and collision with wooded terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - pull-up - excessive, pilot in command (cause) - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The pilot reported that shortly after takeoff, he felt and heard what he thought was the limbs of nearby trees brushing the right wingtip. He reported, 'I now know the shudder of a near stall caused the door window at my right to rattle. My reflex action was a left turn, the sure way to start a spin from a pre-stall attitude.' The airplane rotated to the right and cart-wheeled off the right wingtip and hit trees. The airplane came to rest in an inverted position with the tail resting vertically in the trees. The pilot reported that the accident could have been prevented by, 'decreasing the climb angle sooner after liftoff.' ## Factual narrative On December 17, 1997, at 1620 central standard time, a Piper J-3, N32737, sustained substantial damage when it impacted the terrain during takeoff climb. The airplane rolled to the right and the right wing impacted the ground. The airplane flipped inverted and came to rest on its back. The private pilot received minor injuries. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight had departed a private grass airstrip and was on a local flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot reported that shortly after takeoff he felt and heard what he thought was the limbs of nearby trees brushing the right wingtip. The pilot reported, "I now know the shudder of a near stall caused the door window at my right to rattle. My reflex action was a left turn, the sure way to start a spin from a pre-stall attitude." The pilot reported that the airplane rotated to the right and cart-wheeled off the right wingtip when it hit the trees. The airplane came to rest in an inverted position with the tail resting vertically in the trees. The pilot reported that the accident could have been prevented by, "decreasing the climb angle sooner after liftoff." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N32737](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N32737), registered now, S/N 5569, built 1940 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper J-3 - Registry model: [Piper J3F-65](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3f-65) (registry code 7100536) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 5569 - Airframe hours: 2660 - Engines: Continental C-75F-12 75 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Charles Rishel - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 8, 1997, 22 hours before - Airport: Brand Farm, runway 17, 1,400 × 25 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 77; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 1,804 total, 249 in this make and model, 1,042 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 10 knots - Visibility: 12 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 50 °F ## 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 19971217039589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971217039589A), Dec 17, 1997: Piper J3F65, Valley Center, KS, Substantial damage. Stalled into trees on climbout after wing tip brushed tree tops. (-23) no narrative 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.