# NTSB DEN01LA068: Piper J3C-65, N42523, Morgan, UT, March 7, 2001

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 6, 2001, 17:45 local (Mar 7, 2001, 00:45 UTC)
- Place: Morgan, UT
- Coordinates: 41.009841, -111.669593 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.0098&lon=-111.6696&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 23, 2001
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 51891
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN01LA068
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/51891/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN01LA068

## Probable cause

the pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing roll which resulted in a collision with a snow bank on the edge of the runway.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - snowbank

## Analysis

During landing roll, following the completion of a local area personal flight, the left main landing gear wheel contacted a 3 foot high snow bank on the runway edge and the aircraft nosed over.  The winds were light and variable and the runway was 50 feet in width.

## Factual narrative

On March 6, 2001, at 1745 mountain standard time, a Piper J3C-65, N42523, sustained substantial damage when it exited the side of the runway during landing roll at Morgan County Airport, Morgan, Utah.  The non-instrument rated private pilot and his passenger were not injured.  The flight was a local personal flight being operated under Title 14 CFR Part 91 and no flight plan was filed.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed.

According to the pilot, during landing roll, the left main landing gear wheel made contact with a 3 foot snow bank on the left edge of the runway.  Subsequently, the aircraft nosed over.

The pilot did not identify the runway he was using.  The runways available were 3/21 which are 3,800 feet long and 50 feet wide.  They are surfaced with asphalt.

Winds at the time of the accident were reported by the pilot to be light and variable.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N42523](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N42523), registered now, S/N 14796, built 1945 (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 C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 14796
- Airframe hours: 2474
- Engines: Continental C-90 90 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Dan Wilkinson
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 25, 2000, 52 hours before
- Departed: 42U, MORGAN, UT
- Airport: 42U, Morgan County, runway UNK

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; last flight review September 27, 2000; seat: front; flight hours: 131 total, 65 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 39 °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 20010306004039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010306004039A), Mar 6, 2001: Piper J3C65, Morgan, UT, No damage. (-23) Pilot lost directional control of aircraft on roll out due to a wind gust raising the l/h wing. The aircraft drifted to the left as the pilot powered up…

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.