# NTSB GAA18CA108: Piper J3L, N35226, Astoria, OR, January 13, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 13, 2018, 15:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Astoria, OR - Coordinates: 46.161388, -123.640274 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.1614&lon=-123.6403&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 5, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 96620 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA108 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96620/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96620 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA108 ## Probable cause The control stick handgrip separation from the control stick resulting in the airplane pitching forward, which resulted in hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper J3L-65, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=7100546), [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; cases with it: [Piper J3L-65, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7100546), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Equipment/furnishings: flight compartment equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022510): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Damaged/degraded (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper J3L-65, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022510/cases.md?model=7100546), [All aircraft, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022510/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper J3L-65, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md?model=7100546), [All aircraft, 563 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Piper J3L-65, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7100546), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, he was flying the tailwheel-equipped airplane from the rear seat. During the landing flare, with the control stick in an aft position, the control stick's rubber handgrip slipped off, allowing the stick to move forward. Before he could recover the stick, the airplane pitched down, and landed hard. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall, the forward lower fuselage and the longerons in the tail section. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, he was flying the tailwheel-equipped airplane from the rear seat. During the landing flare, with the control stick in an aft position, the control stick's rubber handgrip slipped off, allowing the stick to move forward. Before he could recover the stick, the airplane pitched down, and landed hard. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall, the forward lower fuselage and the longerons in the tail section. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N35226](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N35226), registered now, S/N 6221, built 1944 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER J3L (65) - Registry model: [Piper J3L-65](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3l-65) (registry code 7100546) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-145B series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-145b-series) (registry code 41502, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 6221 - Year built: 1944 - Engines: Continental A-65-8 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 1, 2016 - Departed: OR23, Astoria, OR - Destination: OR23, Astoria, OR - Airport: OR23, Karpens, runway 10, 1,900 × 75 ft - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 84; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 30, 2016; seat: rear; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 1,899 total, 25 in this make and model, 1,760 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.25 inHg - Observed at: KAST, 10 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 20180113000799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180113000799A), Jan 13, 2018: Piper J3L-65, Astoria, OR, Substantial damage. While attempting to land, the pilot's (rear seat) control stick grip pulled off during flare, resulting in loss of control. The aircraft subsequently impacted… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 16, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96620. 1.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40463182&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photos (item 2, .PDF, 148 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40463183&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-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.