- Date
- July 22, 1995, 12:02 local (18:02 UTC)
- Place
- Englewood, CO
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N5985VPiper J3C
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 24, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19950722019389A
- Case key
- 19509
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
A partial power loss due to a stuck number four exhaust valve. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
During climb to cruise, a partial loss of power occurred. The pilot selected what appeared to be a suitable site for a forced landing. During landing roll, the landing gear collapsed in rough terrain. Examination of the engine provided evidence of a stuck number four exhaust valve.
Factual narrative
On July 22, 1995, at 1202 mountain daylight time, a Piper J3C-65, N5985V, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing approximately 1 mile from Centennial Airport, Englewood, Colorado. The pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for this local area personal flight and no flight plan was filed.
According to the pilot, when he reduced power following initial climb, the engine decelerated to about 1,500 rpm and began to produce black exhaust smoke. He could not achieve any more power so he said he shut down the engine and selected what appeared to be a suitable off airport landing site. During landing roll, the left main landing gear collapsed. The left lower longeron, propeller, belly skins, and landing gear sustained damage. The pilot said the terrain was rougher than it appeared.
The engine was examined by Jensen Aircraft, Salida, Colorado. According to the person who conducted the examination, he found the number four exhaust valve stuck in the open position. His statement is attached.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5985V
- Reported as
- Piper J3C
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 13460
- Airframe hours
- 3,628
- Engine
- Continental C-85-12F, 85 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Donald L. Brehm
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- APA
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 48
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Rear
- Flight hours
- 803 total · 498 in this make and model · 21 in the last 90 days · 14 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 5° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- APA, 2 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.
Other investigations on N5985V · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.