# NTSB ERA15CA143: Piper J3C 65, N717ML, Clermont, FL, March 1, 2015

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: March 1, 2015, 12:35 local (17:35 UTC)
- Place: Clermont, FL
- Coordinates: 28.528333, -81.721107
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.5283&lon=-81.7211&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Landing area overshoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 11, 2015
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 90808
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA15CA143
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90808/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90808
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15CA143

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to land the airplane within the desired touchdown zone, resulting in a long landing and collision with a fence.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/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: Landing area overshoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 400 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he was landing his airplane at his residence, on a 5-acre grass field, at the conclusion of a local, sightseeing flight. He landed long and could not stop the airplane before it collided with a security fence at an adjacent residence. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector reported that the right wing and fuselage sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical problems with the airplane at the time of the accident. The pilot reported 4,000 hours total time; however had accrued only 15 hours in the accident airplane and received a tail wheel endorsement about 3 weeks prior to the accident.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that he was landing his airplane at his residence, on a 5-acre grass field, at the conclusion of a local, sightseeing flight. He landed long and could not stop the airplane before it collided with a security fence at an adjacent residence. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector reported that the right wing and fuselage sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical problems with the airplane at the time of the accident. The pilot reported 4,000 hours total time; however had accrued only 15 hours in the accident airplane and received a tail wheel endorsement about 3 weeks prior to the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N717ML](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N717ML), registered now, S/N 22411, 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: 22411
- Year built: 1946
- Airframe hours: 5800
- Engines: CONT MOTOR C85-8FJ 85 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: David Harmon
- Registered owner: David Harmon
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 17, 2014
- Departed: None, Clermont, FL
- Destination: None, Clermont, FL
- Airport: None, None

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 9, 2015; seat: rear; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 4,000 total, 15 in this make and model, 4,000 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 40° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,200 ft broken
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 30.35 inHg
- Observed at: LEE, 20 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 20150301002129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150301002129A), Mar 1, 2015: Piper J3C-65, Clermont, FL, Substantial damage. On March 1, 2015 at approximately 1735 UTC, a Piper PA-J3-C65 (N717ML), serial# 22411, was attempting to land on his property at 14121 lost lake road, Clermont…

## Docket (10 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 28, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90808. 9.6 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 896 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40429891&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- FAA Inspector Statement (item 2, .PDF, 122 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40429892&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Redacted.PDF
- Memo for Record – Leesburg, FL Weather (METARS) (item 3, .PDF, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40429893&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memo%20for%20Record%20%E2%80%93%20Leesburg,%20FL%20Weather%20(METARS)-Master.PDF
- Airframe Logbook Excerpt (item 4, .PDF, 153 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40429894&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airframe%20Logbook%20Excerpt-Redacted.PDF
- Engine Logbook Excerpt (item 5, .PDF, 144 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40429895&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Engine%20Logbook%20Excerpt-Redacted.PDF
- Pilot Logbook Excerpts (item 6, .PDF, 328 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40429896&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Logbook%20Excerpts-Redacted.PDF
- Photo 1 – Right Wing Damage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 7, .PDF, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40429897&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20%E2%80%93%20Right%20Wing%20Damage%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF
- Photo 2 – Upper Fuselage Damage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 8, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40429898&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20%E2%80%93%20Upper%20Fuselage%20Damage%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF
- Photo 3 – Lower Fuselage and Landing Gear Damage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 9, .PDF, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40429900&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20%E2%80%93%20Lower%20Fuselage%20and%20Landing%20Gear%20Damage%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF
- Photo 4 – Landing Field (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 10, .PDF, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40429901&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204%20%E2%80%93%20Landing%20Field%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-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.

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