# NTSB IAD05LA042: Piper J3C-65, N87955, Andover, NJ, March 5, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 5, 2005, 13:40 local (18:40 UTC) - Place: Andover, NJ - Coordinates: 41.008609, -74.737777 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.0086&lon=-74.7378&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 28, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 61106 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD05LA042 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61106/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD05LA042 ## Probable cause The pilot receiving instruction's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. Factors in the accident were the flight instructors delayed remedial action, and crosswind. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - directional control - not maintained, copilot/second pilot (cause) - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor) - terrain condition - snowbank ## Analysis The certificated pilot (receiving tailwheel instruction) executed a landing to runway 03, and after the airplane touched down, it drifted left. The flight instructor joined him on the controls, and added power and right rudder; however, the left main landing gear struck a 2 1/2-foot snow bank. The airplane swung to the left, the right main landing gear then struck a snow bank, and the airplane nosed over. Winds were 10 degrees from the right, at 6 knots. ## Factual narrative On March 5, 2005, about 1340 eastern standard time, a Piper J3C-65, N87955, received substantial damage when it nosed over while landing at Aeroflex-Andover Airport (12N), Andover, New Jersey. The certificated flight instructor and certificated commercial pilot receiving instruction were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The local instructional flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the flight instructor, the pilot receiving tailwheel instruction was executing a landing on runway 03. After the airplane touched down, it started to drift left. "As correction control inputs were being made [both pilots were then on the controls], the left main gear struck a 2 1/2-foot snow bank, causing the aircraft to swing quickly to the left.." The right main landing gear then struck the snow bank, and the airplane nosed over. The weather reported at the airport, at 1354, included winds from 040 degrees at 6 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N87955](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N87955), registered now, S/N 15573, built 1946 (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-65-8](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-65-8) (registry code 17329, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15573 - Airframe hours: 2700 - Engines: Continental C85-12 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Calvin Thomas - Registered owner: Breeze Hopper LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, January 1, 2005, 33 hours before - Departed: 12N, Andover, NJ - Airport: 12N, Aeroflex-Andover, runway 03, 1,981 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 39; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; last flight review July 1, 2003; seat: front; flight hours: 2,094 total, 160 in this make and model, 300 in the last 90 days, 80 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 21; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1; last flight review July 1, 2003; seat: rear; flight hours: 250 total, 0 in this make and model, 147 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 6 knots - Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 12 °F - Altimeter: 29.84 inHg - Observed at: 12N ## 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 20050305002059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050305002059A), Mar 5, 2005: Piper J3C65, Lakewood, NJ, Substantial damage. (-23) During an attempted landing on runway 03 at the N12 airport in andover, NJ, the front seat pilot [privacy data omitted] lost directional control of the… ## Other investigations on N87955 (1) 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. - [NTSB NYC77FA028](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC77FA028), Jan 15, 1977: Piper J3C65 (N87955), Duanesburg, NY, substantial damage, 1 fatal 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.