# NTSB ERA22LA184: Piper J3C-65, N4693S, Bald Head Island, NC, April 10, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: April 10, 2022, 18:05 local (22:05 UTC)
- Place: Bald Head Island, NC
- Coordinates: 33.85952, -78.005979 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8595&lon=-78.0060&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 104920
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA184
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104920/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104920
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA184

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain control during landing on a soft surface.

## Findings

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

- [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: soft surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 264 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 43 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot stated that he was landing on a beach. During the landing roll, the airplane’s main landing gear “dug in the soft sand” and the airplane flipped over, which resulted in substantial damage to the rudder, fuselage and longerons. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical deficiencies that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4693S](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4693S), registered now, S/N 18373 (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: 18373
- Year built: 1946
- Airframe hours: 3489
- Engines: Continental C-90-12 90 hp reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Wicker Kirk
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2021
- Departed: CRE, N. Myrtle Beach, SC
- Destination: ILM, Wilmington, NC
- Equipment: None

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 63; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; seat: rear; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 11,800 total, 700 in this make and model, 52 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 310° at 8 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Icing: Clear
- Observed at: KSUT, 5 nm away
- METAR: KSUT 102215Z AUTO 31008G15KT 10SM CLR 19/M02 A3005 RMK AO2 T01891017

## 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 20220410005269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220410005269A), Apr 10, 2022: Piper J3C-65, Bald Head Islan, NC, Substantial damage. [privacy data omitted] Departed grand strand airport (kcre) at approximately 1715 EDT in route to wilmington international airport (kilm) for the evening.…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 2, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104920. 5.2 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13831880&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 109 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13944952&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Interview-pilot-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 3.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13951201&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photo_s%20(1)_Redacted-Rel.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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