# NTSB ERA24LA142: Piper J3C-65, N71093, Homosassa Springs, FL, March 14, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 14, 2024, 15:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Homosassa Springs, FL - Coordinates: 28.867611, -82.574111 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.8676&lon=-82.5741&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Standing-engine(s) start-up: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 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 FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 193951 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA142 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193951/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193951 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA142 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to confirm the throttle position before attempting to start the airplane’s engine by manually rotating the propeller, which resulted in a loss of airplane control. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: powerplant parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062050): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062050/cases.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 81 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062050/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061000): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot; cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061000/cases.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 113 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061000/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Standing-engine(s) start-up: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md) - [Standing-engine(s) start-up: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 28 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis After refueling his airplane at an intermediate stop and while waiting to start the engine after an unsuccessful attempt, the pilot was approached by an airport tenant who offered some alternate engine-start advice. When subsequent attempts to start the engine failed, the pilot decided to attempt an engine start by manually rotating the propeller while the tenant adjusted the engine controls from outside the airplane. The engine subsequently started at a high rpm. The airplane departed from the chocks and struck an unoccupied parked airplane, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. The pilot was able to shut the engine down and observed that the throttle was in the “halfway position.” The pilot did not report any mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N71093](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N71093), registered now, S/N 18121 (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: 18121 - Year built: 1946 - Airframe hours: 4140 - Engines: Continental A65-8 65 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Lukas Vivolo - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 15, 2023, 40 hours before - Destination: PCM, Plant City, FL - Airport: CGC, Crystal River-Capt Tom Davis Fld - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 21; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: none; restraint: none; flight hours: 207 total, 47 in this make and model, 18 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: KCGC - METAR: KCGC 141935Z AUTO 28009KT 10SM CLR 27/17 A3009 RMK AO2 ## 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 20240314004569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240314004569A), Mar 14, 2024: Piper J3C-65, Crystal River, FL, Minor damage. Pilot started the aircraft by spinning the prop. There was nobody riding brakes and the plane jumped chocks and ran into a parked aircraft causing damage to… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 22, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193951. 804 KB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 memorandum for record (item 1, PDF, 3 pages, 145 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16937711&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20Luke%20Vivolo%20II_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 659 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16937609&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-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. --- 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.