- Date
- March 20, 1983, 10:03 local (15:03 UTC)
- Place
- Fort Lauderdale, FL
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N3618KPiper J3C-65
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19830320008649A
- Case key
- 30771
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot's father and fiancee were acting as ground crew for the banner pickup. The pilot's father, who is a senior captain for pan am, stated that the acfr flew in a very erratic manner after the banner towing hook was thrown out. The acft was banking and pitching until it pitched down into a steep descending right turn. Two other witnesses thought the acft acted as if it were in a cross control or accelerated stall condition. Investigation revealed the pitch trim was in the full nose up position. No reason could be found for this. No problems were found with the engine. Witnesses said the engine operated at constant power during the crash.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3618K
- Reported as
- Piper J3C-65
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 22310
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-A2B, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Part 91
- Registered owner
- Aerial Aire Flying Forces Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · December 1, 1982 · 9 hours before
- Airport
- FXE · Fort Lauderdale, runway 13, 4,000 × 100 ft, asphalt
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 22
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Front
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 634 total · 320 in this make and model · 554 as pilot in command · 112 in the last 90 days · 7 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 80° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- FXE
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.