# NTSB ERA12LA335: Piper J3C-65, N98568, South Canaan, PA, May 13, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 13, 2012, 18:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: South Canaan, PA - Coordinates: 41.499721, -75.408332 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.4997&lon=-75.4083&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Windshear or thunderstorm](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 9, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 83624 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12LA335 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83624/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83624 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12LA335 ## Probable cause The pilot's delayed decision to abort the takeoff during shifting wind conditions. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Wind: sudden wind shift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010/cases.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 114 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Windshear or thunderstorm](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390/sequence.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 224 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390/sequence.md) - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis After flying passengers throughout the day, the pilot attempted to take off once again from the turf runway. However, during the last takeoff roll, the airplane was slow to accelerate, and the takeoff point was farther along the runway than usual. After the airplane became airborne, the pilot thought that it would not clear trees at the end of the runway, so he reduced power, lowered the nose, and applied left rudder to force the airplane back on the ground. The pilot subsequently thought that the airplane's left brake might have been binding because he had to use right rudder to maintain a straight track down the runway. However, no preexisting mechanical anomalies were noted with the airplane. A carburetor probability icing chart revealed the probability of severe carburetor icing at idle power; however, the pilot stated that he had utilized carburetor heat while taxiing the airplane and had removed it just prior to takeoff. Neighbors, who did not see the airplane but did hear its engine rev up, noted rapid and intense wind shifts, similar to destructive winds they had seen once before in the area. The shifting winds then ceased shortly after the airplane's engine stopped making noise. ## Factual narrative On June 13, 2012, about 1800 eastern daylight time, a Piper J3C-65, N98568, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during an aborted initial climb after a takeoff at Reed Airport (2PA3), South Canaan, Pennsylvania. The certificated commercial pilot sustained minor injuries and the passenger was not injured. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the local personal flight, which was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. According to a responding Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the pilot had flown family members throughout the day, but during the last takeoff roll, the airplane was slow to accelerate, and the takeoff point was farther along the turf runway than usual. After the airplane became airborne, the pilot felt that it would not clear trees at the end of the runway, so he reduced power, lowered the nose and applied left rudder to force the airplane back on the ground. The airplane hit the ground hard, knocking off the landing gear, twisting the fuselage and damaging the engine firewall. The pilot also stated to the inspector that he thought that the airplane's left brake might have been binding because he had to apply right rudder to maintain a straight track before rotation. FAA inspectors found no evidence of preexisting mechanical anomalies with the airplane, and noted that carburetor heat was not being utilized at the time of the accident. FAA aircraft registry information indicated that the airplane was manufactured in 1946, and one of the FAA inspectors stated that it had been owned by the pilot since 1951. The pilot stated that he had over 5,000 hours of flight time, with 4,000 hours in make and model. Reed Airport runway 15/33 was 1,200 feet long and 200 feet wide, at an elevation of 1,400 feet above sea level. The nearest weather-reporting airport, 17 nautical miles (nm) to the southwest, was Wilkes Barre/Scranton International Airport (AVP), Avoca, Pennsylvania, at 962 feet above sea level. Weather, recorded there at 1754, included winds from 350 degrees true at 13, gusting to 19 knots, temperature 22 degrees C, and dew point 11 degrees C. The next closest weather-reporting airport, 22 nm to the south, was Pocono Mountains Municipal Airport (MPO), Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania, at 1,915 feet above sea level. Weather, recorded there at 1753, included winds from 010 degrees true at 13, gusting to 20 knots, temperature 20 degrees C, and dew point 7 degrees C. Utilizing a temperature of 22 degrees C (72 degrees F), and dew point of 11 degrees C (52 degrees F), an FAA carburetor icing probability chart indicated a probability of serious carburetor icing at glide power. During a subsequent interview with the pilot, he stated that he had attempted the takeoff from runway 33, and had flown from that airport since 1950 with thousands of takeoffs there, but that he had never felt the airplane react the way it did. All of a sudden,the flight controls "didn't feel right; the airplane felt like a dog." He also stated that he felt that the airplane wouldn't clear obstacles at the end of the runway, so he cut the power and forced the airplane back down onto the ground. The airplane then landed hard and hit some mud, but did not nose over. The pilot further noted that he was fully aware of a carburetor icing potential and per his normal procedure, had applied carburetor heat on the ground and had removed it for takeoff. The pilot also stated that the next door neighbors subsequently advised him that the wind had shifted during the takeoff attempt. It had happened once before in the local area, and at that time it resulted in the uprooting of a number of trees that surrounded the airport. A neighbor stated that the land in that area was located on a high plateau next to a ridge. She also noted that winds generally came from the east, or just to the right of the takeoff runway, but have been known to rapidly shift. The neighbor further related an incident that occurred years earlier, when the sky darkened to a shade of green, and the winds suddenly shifted, resulting in numerous 100-foot trees being uprooted. It was significant to the neighbor and her husband because one tree fell on a tractor that he had previously been riding. The neighbor also noted that at the time of the accident, she and her husband were outside when the sky again started to turn a shade of green, and the winds began to rapidly swirl around them. They looked at each other and commented that the same thing was happening, but within 2 minutes, the winds subsided to where they were almost calm. The neighbor further noted that she could not see the airplane taking off, but heard the engine rev up to take off, and subsequently cease making noise during the swirling winds. She later went to the accident site and spoke to the pilot, who stated that he couldn't understand what happened and that he just couldn't get the airplane to climb. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N98568](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N98568), registered now, S/N 18787, built 1946 (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 A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18787 - Airframe hours: 2093 - Engines: CONT MOTOR A&C65 SERIES 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Ogden Walter L - Registered owner: Ogden Walter L - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 2011, 6 hours before - Departed: 2PA3, South Canaan, PA - Destination: 2PA3, South Canaan, PA - Airport: 2PA3, Reed Airport, runway 33, 1,200 × 200 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 86; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 9, 2011; seat: front; flight hours: 5,029 total, 4,000 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: AVP, 17 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 20120513008959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120513008959A), May 13, 2012: Piper J3C-65, Lake Ariel, PA, Substantial damage. Pilot stated that aircraft was not developing speed while on the ground roll. And it took him longer to achieve rotation speed, he rotated the aircraft at a… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 3, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83624. 936 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 462 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40373073&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector Record of Conversation with Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 245 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40373078&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Record%20of%20Conversation%20with%20Pilot-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 3, .PDF, 116 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40373086&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - Neighbor (item 4, .PDF, 113 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40373075&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Neighbor-Master.PDF 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.