- Date
- July 17, 2007, 19:45 local (23:45 UTC)
- Place
- Uxbridge, MA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N7088HPiper J3C-65
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 31, 2007
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20070717018109A
- Case key
- 66201
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
A partial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
According to the pilot of the 1946 Piper J3C-65, after takeoff from his private field, the engine lost partial power approximately 100 feet above ground level. Unable to restore takeoff power, the pilot initiated a right turn to avoid several houses, and impacted trees. Subsequent examination of the engine revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical deficiencies. The engine was then started, and ran continuously on the airframe for 4 to 5 minutes with no abnormalities noted.
Factual narrative
According to the pilot of the 1946 Piper J3C-65, after takeoff from his private field, the engine lost partial power approximately 100 feet above ground level. Unable to restore takeoff power, the pilot initiated a right turn to avoid several houses, and impacted trees. Subsequent examination of the engine revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical deficiencies. The engine was then started, and run continuously on the airframe for 4 to 5 minutes with no abnormalities noted.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7088H
- Reported as
- Piper J3C-65
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 20338
- Airframe hours
- 6,117
- Engine
- Continental C-85, 85 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- David A. Lavalle
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 1, 2007
- Departed
- Uxbridge, MA
- Destination
- Uxbridge, MA
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 47
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- April 1, 2007
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 1,100 total · 400 in this make and model · 3 in the last 90 days · 0 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 77 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.01 inHg
- Observed at
- KSFZ, 9 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.