# NTSB MIA00LA243: Piper J3-C65, N70673, St. Petersburg, FL, August 20, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 20, 2000, 11:12 local (15:12 UTC) - Place: St. Petersburg, FL - Coordinates: 27.769966, -82.629524 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.7700&lon=-82.6295&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 2, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 50036 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA00LA243 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50036/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA00LA243 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper judgment not to sit in the pilot's seat (rear seat) and improper use of brakes on landing roll resulting in a loss of directional control and subsequent nose over. ## 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 - judgment - improper, pilot in command (cause) - brakes(normal) - improper use of, pilot in command (cause) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command - Nose over, landing - roll - terrain condition - runway ## Analysis The pilot was flying the airplane from the front seat when it was placard by the FAA for solo flight in the rear seat only. The pilot dropped off his banner in the sod area adjacent to the runway and side stepped to the left landing on the runway. The tail of the airplane came up; he applied throttle, aft stick, and his body weight shifted forward. He inadvertently applied brakes, experienced a loss of directional control, and subsequent nose over of the airplane. ## Factual narrative On August 20, 2000, at about 1112 eastern daylight time, a Piper J3C-65, N7073, registered to a private owner, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 banner tow flight, experienced an on-ground loss of control on landing at Albert Whitted Airport (SPG), St. Petersburg, Florida, and nosed over inverted. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The commercial pilot reported no injuries. The flight originated from SPG about 1 hour 12 minutes before the accident. The pilot stated he entered a left base for the sod area located adjacent to runway 36 to drop off his banner. He completed the banner drop and side stepped to the left and made a wheel landing to runway 36. The tail of the airplane came up; he applied a little throttle, aft stick, and his body weight shifted forward. He inadvertently applied brakes, experienced a loss of directional control, and subsequent nose over of the airplane. The pilot was flying the airplane from the front seat. Review of Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation, Aircraft Specification No. A-691 states that the Model J3C airplane is placard stating, "Solo flying in rear seat only." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N70673](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N70673), registered now, S/N 17694, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper J3-C65 - 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: 17694 - Airframe hours: 12549 - Engines: Lycoming O-320A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 91 - Registered owner: Thomas W. Merrifield - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, June 28, 2000, 44 hours before - Airport: SPG, Albert Whitted Muni, runway 36, 2,864 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 26; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 952 total, 905 as pilot in command, 249 in the last 90 days, 68 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: SPG ## 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 20000820011219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000820011219A), Aug 20, 2000: Piper J3C65, St Petersburg, FL, Substantial damage. (-23) Upon landing a/c nosed over striking propellor on runway and came to rest inverted on runway. (.4)on August 20, 2000, at about 1112 eastern daylight… ## Other investigations on N70673 (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 MIA85LA078](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA85LA078), Jan 12, 1985: Piper J3C-65 (N70673), St.Petersburg, FL, substantial damage 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.