# NTSB GAA15CA186: Piper J3C, N3274U, Arcadia, FL, July 4, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 4, 2015, 11:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Arcadia, FL - Coordinates: 27.195554, -81.837219 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.1956&lon=-81.8372&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 30, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 91569 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA15CA186 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91569/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91569 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA186 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing, which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/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: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200); cases with it: [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during the landing roll the airplane veered to the right and departed the runway. He stated that he over-corrected for the excursion and the airplane veered back to the left crossing the runway, and impacted a ditch. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the empennage. The pilot reported that there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that during the landing roll the airplane veered to the right and departed the runway. He stated that he over-corrected for the excursion and the airplane veered back to the left crossing the runway, and impacted a ditch. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the empennage. The pilot reported that there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: N3274U (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: PIPER J3C (65) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 6735 - Year built: 1941 - Airframe hours: 35 - Engines: CONT MOTOR C-85-8F 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: George A. Pertuit - Registered owner: George A. Pertuit - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 2014 - Departed: PGD, Punta Gorda, FL - Destination: X06, Arcadia, FL - Airport: X06, Arcadia Muni, runway 06, 3,700 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; last flight review February 14, 2015; seat: rear; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 172 total, 27 in this make and model, 135 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 30.13 inHg - Observed at: PGD, 19 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 20150704012309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150704012309A), Jul 4, 2015: Piper J3C-65, Arcadia, FL, Substantial damage. Pilot stated that he was performing touch and goes at Arcadia airport on July 4, 2015. On the fourth touch and go the aircraft veered to the right and ran off… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 9, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91569. 2.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40431642&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Photograph 1: Substantial damage to empennage (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 422 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40431643&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photograph%201%3A%20Substantial%20damage%20to%20empennage%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photograph 2: Substantial damage to right wing (Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 543 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40431644&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photograph%202%3A%20Substantial%20damage%20to%20right%20wing%20(Courtesy%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. --- 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.