# NTSB LAX02FA120: Piper J3F-65, N40770, Parker, AZ, March 30, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: March 30, 2002, 16:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Parker, AZ - Coordinates: 34.150554, -114.27111 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1506&lon=-114.2711&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 2 fatal - Status: Completed, report March 2, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Continental Teledyne, The New Piper, Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 54428 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX02FA120 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54428/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54428 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02FA120 ## Probable cause The failure of the student to attain and maintain an adequate airspeed following liftoff, which resulted in a stall/mush condition. Also causal was the certified flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the flight and failure to take timely remedial actions. . ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - airspeed - not obtained/maintained, dual student (cause) - stall/mush - inadvertent, dual student - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The airplane collided with the ground following a loss of control in the takeoff initial climb and was destroyed in a ground fire about 300 yards north of the departure end of the runway. The student was receiving instruction by the certified flight instructor (CFI). Just after liftoff, the airplane assumed a nose high stall attitude and began "wallowing" with the wings rocking back and forth. The airplane never attained more than 70 feet off the ground as it flew past the departure end of runway, and, while still "wallowing," began a right crosswind turn. The right wingtip contacted the ground and the airplane cartwheeled to a stop and then caught fire. In a post accident examination, no mechanical anomalies were discovered with either the airframe systems or engine. ## Factual narrative On March 30, 2002, at 1600 mountain standard time, a Piper J3F-65, N40770, failed to gain altitude and dragged a wing in the takeoff initial climb from Avi Suquilla Airport (P20), Parker, Arizona. The airplane collided with the ground and was destroyed in a ground fire about 300 yards north of the departure end of runway 1. The airplane was owned and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot/owner, who held airline transport pilot (ATP) and certified flight instructor (CFI) certificates, sustained fatal injuries; the student incurred serious injuries. The student later succumbed to her injuries on May 20, 2002. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local area instructional flight that was originating at the time of the accident. Five airport workers in the airport office observed the sequence of events. They reported that just after liftoff, the airplane assumed a nose high stall attitude and began "wallowing" with the wings rocking back and forth. The airplane never attained more than 70 feet off the ground as it flew past the departure end of runway 1, and, while still "wallowing," began a right crosswind turn. The right wingtip contacted the ground and the airplane cartwheeled to a stop and then caught fire. They immediately responded to the crash site and reported the student continually repeated, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean it." The witnesses reported that earlier in the day they had stopped by the CFI's hangar and spoke briefly with him and the student. The student was introduced as the CFI's daughter, and was receiving instruction in the airplane. The CFI was described as very proud of the airplane, which he had completely restored to its 1941 factory delivery condition. The workers saw the CFI do a very thorough preflight inspection and said that he used aviation fuel in the airplane. On April 4, 2002, investigators from the Safety Board, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), The New Piper Aircraft, and Teledyne Continental Motors examined the wreckage that had been relocated to a hanger. The airplane had sustained post impact fire damage. This damage consumed most of the exterior fabric, except for the left wing and left horizontal surface. The left wing remained attached to the fuselage; the right wing separated from the fuselage at the root. Control continuity was established to ailerons, rudder, and elevator, through cables. The fuselage frame remained mostly intact. All cockpit instruments were destroyed by fire. The seat cushions and seat belts were consumed by fire. The engine remained attached to the mount, which had partially separated from the fuselage. Compression was produced in all four cylinders, and valve and gear train continuity was established. Due to extensive heat damage, the carburetor and magnetos were not tested. The wooden propeller was still attached at its mounting point and the blades were splintered from ground impact. No preimpact anomalies were noted with either the engine or propeller. A toxicological test on samples from the flight instructor was performed by the FAA's Civil Aeromedical's Institute (CAMI) Forensic Toxicological and Accident Research Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, with negative results for alcohol and all screened drug substances. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N40770](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N40770-2002-08-28), registration cancelled 2002-08-28, S/N 7484, built 1941 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper J3F-65 - Registry model: [Piper J3F-65](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3f-65) (registry code 7100536) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7484 - Airframe hours: 4695.7 - Engines: Continental A&C 65 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Richard R. Robinson - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 1, 2001 - Departed: P20, Parker, AZ - Airport: KP20, Parker, runway 1, 4,780 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: fatal; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; toxicology performed; flight hours: 26,200 total - Student pilot; age 32; injuries: fatal; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 9 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 29.82 inHg - Observed at: KBLH, 37 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 20020330004949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020330004949A), Mar 30, 2002: Piper J3F65, Parker, AZ, No damage, 1 fatal. (.19) On March 30, 2002, at 1600 mountain standard time, a Piper J3F-65, N40770, failed to gain altitude and dragged a wing in the takeoff initial climb from… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 12, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54428. 706 KB in all. - Report excerpts from the New Piper (item 1, .PDF, 104 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40187064&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Report%20excerpts%20from%20the%20New%20Piper-Master.PDF - Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 (item 2, .PDF, 37 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40397062&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.15-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation - Airport Employee (item 3, .PDF, 56 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40397063&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Airport%20Employee-Redacted.PDF - Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 4, .PDF, 453 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40397065&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-Redacted.PDF - Toxicological Report (item 5, .PDF, 57 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40397064&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Toxicological%20Report-Redacted.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.