# NTSB LAX98LA213: Piper J3C-65, N30576, Redding, CA, June 25, 1998

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 25, 1998, 13:50 local (20:50 UTC)
- Place: Redding, CA
- Coordinates: 40.60065, -122.460632 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6007&lon=-122.4606&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 15, 2001
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 30131
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX98LA213
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/30131/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA213

## Probable cause

The pilot's excessive use of the brakes while taxiing, allowing the aircraft to nose over.

## Sequence of events

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

- Nose over, taxi - from landing
  - brakes(normal) - excessive, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

The pilot landed and began to taxi to the hangar.  The aircraft was on the runway centerline and was moving about 10 miles per hour.  The pilot stated that the tail became light due to excessive braking and the aircraft nosed over and came to rest inverted.  The pilot reported that there are two windsocks on the field, and both were showing no wind at the time of the accident.  The pilot further reported that he had not experienced any mechanical malfunction with the aircraft prior to the accident.

## Factual narrative

On June 25, 1998, at 1350 hours Pacific daylight time, a Piper J3C-65, N30576, nosed over while taxiing at the Benton airport in Redding, California.  The aircraft sustained substantial damage.  The commercial pilot suffered minor injuries, and the passenger received no injuries.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local personal flight and no flight plan was filed.

The pilot reported that he completed a landing on runway 33 and was beginning a left turn to taxi back to the hangar.  The aircraft was still on the runway centerline and was moving about 10 miles per hour.  The pilot stated that the tail became light "due to excessive braking" and the aircraft nosed over and came to rest inverted.

The pilot reported that there are two windsocks on the field, and both were showing no wind at the time of the accident.  The pilot further reported that he had not experienced any mechanical malfunction with the aircraft prior to the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N30576](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N30576), registered now, S/N 4946, built 1940 (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 C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 4946
- Airframe hours: 2416
- Engines: Continental C90-16F 90 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Brent Owen
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 6, 1998, 15 hours before
- Departed: 085
- Airport: RDD, Redding, runway 33, 2,420 × 80 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 5,500 total, 600 in this make and model, 50 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 90° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: KRD, 6 nm away

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.

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