# NTSB NYC00LA110: Piper J3C-65, N88340, Waynesburg, PA, March 26, 2000

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 26, 2000, 12:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place: Waynesburg, PA
- Coordinates: 39.88948, -80.180084 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.8895&lon=-80.1801&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 19, 2001
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 48902
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC00LA110
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/48902/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC00LA110

## Probable cause

The private pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions and the flight instructor's delay in remedial action. A factor in the accident was the gusting wind conditions.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, taxi
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, copilot/second pilot (cause)
  - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
- Nose over, taxi

## Analysis

After landing, the private pilot receiving a flight review was attempting to turn the airplane 180 degrees to the left for another takeoff to the west.  As the airplane passed though 110 degrees of the turn, the airplane turned upside down before the flight instructor could correct.  The winds reported at an airport located about 10 miles to the southeast of the accident site were from 270 degrees at 10 knots, gusts to 19 knots.

## Factual narrative

On March 26, 2000, about 1200 Eastern Standard Time, a Piper J3C-65, N88340, was substantially damaged while taxing at the Green County Airport, Waynesburg, Pennsylvania.  The certificated flight instructor (CFI) and the certificated private pilot were not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local instructional flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the CFI stated that he was conducting a flight review with the private pilot.  After landing on the grass area adjacent to Runway 27, the airplane was turned by the private pilot to reverse direction.  While in the turn, the tail of the airplane began to rise.  The private pilot then used the wrong control inputs for the crosswind and before the CFI could correct, the airplane nosed over.

According to the private pilot, he was attempting to turn the airplane 180 degrees to the left after landing for another takeoff.  As the airplane passed though 110 degrees of the turn, the airplane turned upside down.

The winds reported at an airport located about 10 miles to the southeast of the accident site, at 1153, were from 270 degrees at 10 knots, gusts to 19 knots.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N88340](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N88340), registered now, S/N 15958 (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: 15958
- Airframe hours: 7677
- Engines: Continental C-85 85 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: John R. Lovingood
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, February 15, 2000, 35 hours before
- Departed: WAY
- Airport: WAY, Green County Airport

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 62; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: rear; flight hours: 21,764 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 15,000 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 13 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 21 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: MGW, 19 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 20000326043809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000326043809A), Mar 26, 2000: Piper J3C65, Waynesburg, PA, Substantial damage. (-23) On March 26, 2000 Piper J3-C65, N88340 sustained damage during landing at Waynesburg pa. (Way). John r. lovingood CFI 1401891 was instructing a private…

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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