# NTSB DEN05LA035: Piper J3C-65, N23375, Monte Vista, CO, December 12, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 12, 2004, 13:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Monte Vista, CO - Coordinates: 37.528331, -106.046669 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.5283&lon=-106.0467&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report June 8, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 60708 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN05LA035 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60708/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN05LA035 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed which resulted in a stall during low level flight. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command - low altitude flight/maneuver - attempted, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The pilot was flying over his parents' house at approximately 500 feet. Several witnesses saw the airplane pitch up and another witness stated that the airplane "stalled off to the left wing." The airplane nosed over and spiraled down. One witness stated that at approximately 50 feet agl, the airplane appeared to "pull out"; however, the airplane impacted the ground in a 45 degree nose down attitude. The airplane bounced and came to rest approximately 130 feet from the initial impact point. The airplane was substantially damaged. A post-accident examination of the airplane's systems revealed no anomalies. ## Factual narrative On December 12, 2004, approximately 1330 mountain standard time, a Piper J3C-65, N23375, owned and piloted by an airline transport pilot, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain while maneuvering approximately 5 miles north of Monte Vista, Colorado. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot and his passenger sustained serious injuries. The local flight originated from Del Norte, Colorado, approximately 1225. According to the pilot's accident report, he was flying over his parents home at an approximate altitude of 500 feet agl. The pilot stated that he has no memory of the accident sequence or the events leading up to the accident. According to several witnesses, the airplane to pitched up. Another witness stated that the airplane "stalled off to the left wing." The airplane nosed over and spiraled down. One witness stated that at approximately 50 feet agl, the airplane appeared to "pull out"; however, the airplane impacted the ground in a 45 degree nose down attitude. The airplane bounced and came to rest approximately 130 feet from the initial impact point. Both wings were bent aft longitudinally, and one wing was partially separated at the wing root. The propeller was bent aft, the engine was displaced aft into the firewall, and both main landing gear assemblies were crushed aft. A post-accident examination of the airplane's systems, conducted by the FAA, revealed no anomalies. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N23375](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N23375-2020-05-01), registration cancelled 2020-05-01, S/N 3121, built 1939 (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 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 3121 - Airframe hours: 4065 - Engines: Continental O-200A 90 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 24, 2004, 40 hours before - Departed: 8V1, Del Norte, CO - Airport: Na ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review August 3, 2002; seat: front; flight hours: 8,000 total, 90 in this make and model, 7,300 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 19 °F - Altimeter: 30.25 inHg - Observed at: ALS, 29 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 20041212033209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20041212033209A), Dec 12, 2004: Piper J3C65, Monte Vista, CO, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot was maneuvering between 500 to 1000 feet AGL over an open farm field when the aircraft appeared to enter a stall/spin condition and impacted… 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.