# NTSB NYC03LA078: Piper J3C-65, N88387, Taunton, MA, April 2, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 2, 2003, 14:35 local (19:35 UTC) - Place: Taunton, MA - Coordinates: 41.871387, -71.009719 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.8714&lon=-71.0097&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 3, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 56754 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC03LA078 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56754/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC03LA078 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for the winds, and his failure to maintain airspeed which resulted in the inadvertent stall. A factor in the accident was the tailwind. ## 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 - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - aborted - terrain condition - ground - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command ## Analysis According to the pilot, prior to takeoff, he noted the wind sock was 70 to 90 degrees different to the wind he physically felt on the ground. He departed runway 30, and while in flight he observed smoke near the airport which indicated a crosswind of approximately 135 degrees to the runway, which he thought appeared to be the same as on take off. The pilot said when he landed on runway 30, the wind shifted and the tail of the airplane was picked up by the "tail/cross wind." The airplane then veered left and started to depart the runway. Unable to correct with rudder or brakes, the pilot applied full power to abort the landing. After lift off, to avoid trees, the pilot banked right which, "...caused the right wing to stall and slide into the ground by the wind sock." The pilot did not report any pre-impact mechanical difficulties with the airplane. Winds at the airport were reported to be from 110 degrees at 7 knots about 20 minutes after the accident, and as calm 45 minutes before the accident. ## Factual narrative On April 2, 2003, at 1435 eastern standard time, a Piper J3C-65, N88387, was substantially damaged during an aborted landing at the Taunton Municipal Airport (TAN), Taunton, Massachusetts. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the local personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot, prior to departing TAN, he noted the wind sock was 70 to 90 degrees different to the wind he physically felt on the ground. He departed runway 30, and while in flight, he observed smoke near the airport which indicated a crosswind of approximately 135 degrees to the runway. He said this, "Appeared to be the same as on take off." The pilot said when he landed on runway 30, the wind shifted and the tail of the airplane was picked up by the "tail/cross wind." The airplane then veered left and started to depart the runway. Unable to correct with rudder or brakes, the pilot applied full power to abort the landing. After lift off, to avoid trees, the pilot banked right. The pilot further stated, "..I had to bank right behind the wind sock, the combination of the tail wind and bank caused the right wing to stall and slide into the ground by the wind sock." The pilot did not report any pre-impact mechanical difficulties with the airplane. According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, examination of the airplane revealed the right wing spar was broken at the fuselage. Winds at TAN were reported to be from 110 degrees at 7 knots about 20 minutes after the accident, and as calm 45 minutes before the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N88387](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N88387-2004-06-29), registration cancelled 2004-06-29, S/N 16005, 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: 16005 - Airframe hours: 4704 - Engines: Continental C65 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: William E. Taylor - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 24, 2002 - Departed: TAN, Taunton, MA - Destination: TAN - Airport: TAN, Taunton Muni, runway 30, 3,500 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 340 total, 15 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: TAN ## 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 20030402004069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030402004069A), Apr 2, 2003: Piper J3C65, Taunton, MA, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot stated he had flown the pattern a couple times at tauton upon landing runway 30 the wind shifted and picked up the tail, and the aircraft veered to… 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.