# NTSB NYC06CA126: Piper J3C, N1401V, Old Town, ME, May 29, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 29, 2006, 14:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Old Town, ME - Coordinates: 44.952499, -68.674446 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.9525&lon=-68.6744&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 3, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Portland - NTSB case key (mKey): 63771 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC06CA126 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63771/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC06CA126 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed, which resulted in an inadvertent stall and subsequent impact with water. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - water ## Analysis The pilot stated that shortly after taking off from a river in a float equipped Piper J3C, he was informed by radio that he had departed without his phone. The pilot returned to land, and during the landing, the airplane touched down on the right float, and the right wingtip subsequently impacted the water. According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the pilot stated that after takeoff, he stalled the airplane while in a turn and then "crashed in the lake." He also stated that the "density altitude got the best of me." The pilot did not report any mechanical anomalies. ## Factual narrative The pilot stated that shortly after taking off from a river in a float equipped Piper J3C, he was informed by radio that he had departed without his phone. The pilot returned to land, and during the landing, the airplane touched down on the right float, and the right wingtip subsequently impacted the water. According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the pilot stated that after takeoff, he stalled the airplane while in a turn and then "crashed in the lake." He also stated that the "density altitude got the best of me." The pilot did not report any mechanical anomalies. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1401V](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1401V), registered now, S/N 10771 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper J3C - 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: 10771 - Airframe hours: 2859 - Engines: Continental C-85-12F reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 1, 2005 - Departed: KOLD, Old Town, ME - Destination: Penobscot River, ME - Airport: KOLD, Dewitt Field, Seaplane Base, runway 17W, 8,400 × 100 ft, water ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 1, 2005; seat: front; flight hours: 685 total, 295 in this make and model, 19 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: KBGR, 11 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 20060529016369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060529016369A), May 29, 2006: Piper J3C65, Millinocket, ME, Substantial damage. (-23) On may 29, 2006 the pilot [privacy data omitted] was pilot-in-command of N1401V a Piper J3C-65 configured for float operations. Upon landing the pilot… ## Other investigations on N1401V (2) 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 CEN24LA087](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA087), Jan 9, 2024: Piper J3C (N1401V), Park Rapids, MN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control and terrain clearance during initial climb, that resulted in an impact with trees and terrain. - [NTSB NYC73FNC55](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC73FNC55), Feb 23, 1973: Piper J3C-65 (N1401V), Springfield, VT, substantial damage 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.