- Date
- September 4, 1982, 14:52 local (20:52 UTC)
- Place
- Durango, CO
- Injuries
- 2 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N98872Piper J-3 C65
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 4, 1983
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19820904047929A
- Case key
- 70527
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot reported that he took off with the doors latched open, and after lift-off, the aircraft failed to exceed 42 mph. He reported that an altitude of about 150 ft was attained. Due to the lack of performance and fearful of obstructions ahead, the pilot began a broad, flat 180 degree return to the field. During the turn, the aircraft stalled and struck the ground. The elevation of the crash site was about 6530 ft and the reported temperature was 82 degrees. The aircraft was equipped with a 65 horsepower engine.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N98872
- Reported as
- Piper J-3 C65
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 19128
- Airframe hours
- 6,000
- Engine
- Continental A-65, 65 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Steven J. Stonehouse
- Registered owner
- Steven J. Stonehouse
- Departed
- Durango, CO
- Destination
- Durango, CO
- Airport
- Private Airstrip, runway 36, 3,200 × 0 ft, grass/turf
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 58
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Flight hours
- 1,831 total · 30 in this make and model · 1,800 as pilot in command · 45 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 0° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Temperature
- 180 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.