# NTSB MIA92FA174: Piper J3C-65, N70734, Inverness, MS, September 6, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: September 6, 1992, 18:23 local (23:23 UTC)
- Place: Inverness, MS
- Coordinates: 33.350788, -90.590324 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3508&lon=-90.5903&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 14, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32994
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA92FA174
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32994/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA92FA174

## Probable cause

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT IN COMMAND TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED ABOVE STALL AIRSPEED RESULTING IN THE AIRCRAFT STALLING AND ENTERING A SPIN FROM WHICH IT DESCENDED UNCONTROLLED TO THE GROUND.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - airspeed(vs) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - ground

## Analysis

THE STUDENT PILOT WHO HAD NOT RECEIVED A SOLO ENDORSEMENT FROM A FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR BORROWED THE AIRCRAFT FROM THE OWNER. THE STUDENT THEN FLEW SOLO TO CLEVELAND, MISSISSIPPI WHERE A FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR ENDORSED HIM FOR SOLO FLIGHT. THE STUDENT THEN RETURNED TO INVERNESS, MISSISSIPPI AND REFUELED THE AIRCRAFT. THE STUDENT THEN FLEW TO LELAND, MISSISSIPPI AND PICKED UP A PASSENGER. THE STUDENT AND PASSENGER THEN DEPARTED FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEER SPOTTING. THE FLIGHT WAS OBSERVED FLYING LOW AND AT A SLOW SPEED IN THE CRASH AREA. THE AIRCRAFT WRECKAGE WAS FOUND THE NEXT DAY. THE AIRCRAFT HAD CRASHED NOSE FIRST AT A SLOW SPEED IN AN AREA OF TREES. ONLY ONE SMALL BRANCH ON A TREE HAD BEEN DAMAGED BY THE DESCENDING AIRCRAFT. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF PRECRASH FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE AIRCRAFT STRUCTURE, FLIGHT CONTROLS, OR ENGINE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N70734](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N70734-1993-01-28), registration cancelled 1993-01-28, S/N 17752 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER J3C-65
- Registry model: [Piper J3C-65](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3c-65) (registry code 7100510) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17752
- Airframe hours: 3069
- Engines: CONTINENTAL C-90-8-F 95 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Arrington, Lee
- Registered owner: Arrington, Lee
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 16, 1992, 47 hours before
- Departed: LELAND, MS

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 21; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: rear; toxicology performed; flight hours: 6 total, 6 in this make and model, 1 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: GWO, 16 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 19920906035409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920906035409A), Sep 6, 1992: Piper J3C65, Inverness, MS, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Student with passenger stalled during low level flight scouting for deer.

## Other investigations on N70734 (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 MIA68F0537](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA68F0537), May 20, 1968: Piper J3C-65 (N70734), Glen Allen, MS, destroyed

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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