# NTSB LAX07CA166: Piper J3C-65, N98041, Quincy, CA, May 13, 2007

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: May 12, 2007, 17:30 local (May 13, 2007, 00:30 UTC)
- Place: Quincy, CA
- Coordinates: 39.957221, -120.897781
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9572&lon=-120.8978&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 25, 2007
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 65780
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX07CA166
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65780/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX07CA166

## Probable cause

The pilot's excessive use of the brakes, which resulted in a nose over.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Nose over, landing - roll
  - brakes(normal) - excessive, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - grass

## Analysis

The airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted during the landing roll. The purpose of the flight was for the pilot to practice landings in an open pasture.  The pasture was flat with a cover of grass about 5 inches in height.  He began a normal wheel landing in the pasture.  After touchdown he applied brake pressure and attempted to keep the tail up with the elevator control.  He continued to apply brake pressure and as the airplane slowed, the tail rose upward.  The airplane nosed over to inverted.  The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine.  The tail and right wing sustained damage during the accident sequence.

## Factual narrative

The airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted during the landing roll.  In a written statement, the pilot reported that the purpose of the flight was to practice landings in an open pasture on his family's property.  The pasture was flat with a cover of grass about 5 inches in height.  He began a normal wheel landing in the pasture, where after touchdown he applied brake pressure and attempted to keep the tail up with the elevator control.  He continued to apply brake pressure and the as the airplane slowed the tail rose upward.  The airplane nosed over, coming to rest inverted.

The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine.  The tail and right wing sustained damage during the accident sequence.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N98041](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N98041), registered now, S/N 18188, 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: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18188
- Engines: Lycoming O-320 reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: Quincy, CA
- Destination: Quincy, CA
- Airport: NONE, Private Pasture, runway 00, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 25; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3; flight hours: 365 total, 55 in this make and model, 7 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 200° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F

## 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 20070512020149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070512020149A), May 12, 2007: Piper J3C65, Quincy, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot departed from a flat and level pasture that was covered with about 5 inches of natural grass. Shortly after departure, the pilot returned for…

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.