- Date
- April 7, 1996, 15:15 local (20:15 UTC)
- Place
- Midlothain, TX
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N7440HPiper J3C-65
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 25, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19960407006229A
- Case key
- 19797
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
the pilot's failure to maintain obstacle clearance.
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
The pilot reported that he had made a pass over the taxiway to drop Easter candy to children. During a second pass to drop the remaining candy, the airplane's landing gear struck the east-west power line wires located north of the taxiway. The airplane came to rest on its nose on the taxiway.
Factual narrative
On April 7, 1996, at 1515 central daylight time, a Piper J3C-65, N7440H, registered to and operated by a private owner under Title 14 CFR Part 91, was substantially damaged following impact with power lines near Midlothian, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight, and a flight plan was not filed. The private pilot and his passenger were not injured. The flight originated from Midlothian, Texas, approximately 25 minutes before the accident.
The pilot reported that he had made a pass over the taxiway to drop Easter candy to the children. During a second pass to drop the remaining candy, the airplane's landing gear struck the east-west power line wires located north of the taxiway. The airplane came to rest on its nose on the taxiway. Both wing struts were bent, the engine mount was bent, and two longerons were deformed at the landing gear attachment points.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7440H
- Reported as
- Piper J3C-65
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 20707
- Airframe hours
- 2,289
- Engine
- Continental A-758, 75 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Carter Dale Roberts
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · December 23, 1995 · 13 hours before
- Departed
- 2TS6
- Airport
- 2TS6 · Eagle'S Nest, runway 17, 3,400 × 50 ft, concrete
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
- 51
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Rear
- Flight hours
- 1,191 total · 83 in this make and model · 1,191 as pilot in command · 56 in the last 90 days · 18 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 180° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 72 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.