# NTSB MIA85LA092: Piper J3C-65, N92668, St.Augustine, FL, February 10, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 10, 1985, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place: St.Augustine, FL
- Coordinates: 29.889768, -81.309982 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.8898&lon=-81.3100&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 31351
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA85LA092
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31351/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA85LA092

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, landing - flare/touchdown
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, dual student (cause)
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, dual student (cause)
  - lack of total experience, dual student (contributing factor)
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
- In flight collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown
  - object - airport facility

## Analysis

THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A WIND DIRECTION INDICATOR SUPPORT POLE DURING A RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING. THE CFI ON BOARD STATED HE TURNED HIS HEAD TO ADVISE THE STUDENT IN THE BACK SEAT TO KEEP THE LEFT WING DOWN BECAUSE OF THE X-WIND CONDITION WHEN HE NOTICED THE ACFT DRIFTING TO THE RIGHT TOWARD THE POLE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N92668](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N92668), registered now, S/N 17043, 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: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17043
- Airframe hours: 3028
- Engines: CONTINENTAL A65-8 65 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Aero Sport,Inc.
- Registered owner: Marion M. Honeycutt
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 13, 1984, 74 hours before
- Airport: SGJ, St. Augustine, runway 13, 2,000 ×  ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: unknown, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 3,872 total, 120 in this make and model, 3,632 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 60° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: CRG, 35 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 19850210037599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850210037599A), Feb 10, 1985: Piper J3C65, St Augustine, FL, Substantial damage. Bounced on landing, added power to cushion touchdown. Drifted into wind indicator pole on grass runway.

## Other investigations on N92668 (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 BFO92LA087](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO92LA087), Jul 6, 1992: Piper J3C (N92668), Frederick, MD, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF CARBURETOR HEAT RESULTING IN THE FORMATION OF CARBURETOR ICE. CARBURETOR ICING WEATHER CONDITIONS WAS A FACTOR.

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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