# NTSB ERA13CA223: Piper J3L-65, N35252, Daytona Beach, FL, March 30, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 30, 2013, 14:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Daytona Beach, FL - Coordinates: 29.074722, -81.041114 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.0747&lon=-81.0411&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 7, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 86778 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA13CA223 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/86778/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86778 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13CA223 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing, resulting in a runway excursion. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s improper decision to land with a tailwind. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper J3L-65, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7100546), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper J3L-65, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7100546), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper J3L-65, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=7100546), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper J3L-65, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7100546), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper J3L-65, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7100546), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Piper J3L-65, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7100546), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper J3L-65, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7100546), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, he was participating in a spot landing competition at the airport. After the airplane’s main landing gear touched down on runway 5, the airplane began to drift slightly to the right. He applied left rudder and brake to realign the airplane with the runway and to counteract a “quartering tailwind.” He also advanced the throttle to assist in centering the airplane with the runway, but the engine “stuttered.” He retracted the throttle and continued to apply left rudder and aileron; however, the airplane departed the right side of the runway and impacted a hangar, resulting in substantial damage to the right wing. Video taken by a spectator of the landing competition corroborates the pilot’s description of the accident. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. An airport located about 5 miles east of the accident site recorded wind from 200 degrees at 8 knots, gusting to 19 knots. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot he was participating in a spot landing competition at the airport. After the airplane main landing gear touched down on runway 05 the airplane began to drift slightly to the right. He applied left rudder and brake to realign the airplane with the runway and to also counteract a “quartering tailwind”. He also advanced the throttle to assist in centering the airplane with the runway, but the engine “stuttered.” He retracted the throttle and continued to apply left rudder and aileron; however, the airplane departed the right side of the runway and impacted a hangar resulting in substantial damage to the right wing. Videotape taken by a spectator of the landing competition corroborates the pilot’s description of the accident. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that could have precluded normal operation. Wind reported at an airport located about 5 miles east of the accident site was from 200 degrees at 08 knots, gusting to 19 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N35252](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N35252), registered now, S/N 6246, built 1941 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER J3L-65 - Registry model: [Piper J3L-65](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3l-65) (registry code 7100546) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C90 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (registry code 17009, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 6246 - Airframe hours: 2822 - Engines: CONT MOTOR A-65A 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Bannerman James W - Registered owner: Bannerman James W - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special); Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 15, 2012, 18 hours before - Departed: 7FL6, Daytona Beach, FL - Destination: 7FL6, Daytona Beach, FL - Airport: 7FL6, Spruce Creek Airport, runway 05, 4,000 × 176 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 22, 2012; seat: rear; flight hours: 2,800 total, 110 in this make and model, 2,500 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 8 knots, gusting 19 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.21 inHg - Observed at: EVB, 5 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 20130330007399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130330007399A), Mar 30, 2013: Piper J3L-65, Port Orange, FL, Substantial damage. Airman provided that he was landing on runway 5 with light and variable winds. That after touchdown he was unable to stop a right turn to the runway edge where… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 30, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86778. 5.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 673 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40392787&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 2, .PDF, 603 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40392625&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Record of NTSB Interview with Pilot-In-Command (item 3, .PDF, 71 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40393424&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20NTSB%20Interview%20with%20Pilot-In-Command-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1: Digital Photograph Provided by FAA. View Taken Post Accident Depicting Damage (item 4, .PDF, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40392920&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Digital%20Photograph%20Provided%20by%20FAA.%20View%20Taken%20Post%20Accident%20Depicting%20Damage-Master.PDF - Photo 2: Digital Picture Provided by FAA. View Depicting Damage to the Outer Portion of the Right Wing and Aileron (item 5, .PDF, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40392921&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20Digital%20Picture%20Provided%20by%20FAA.%20View%20Depicting%20Damage%20to%20the%20Outer%20Portion%20of%20the%20Right%20Wing%20and%20Aileron-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.