- Date
- September 13, 2007, 15:55 local (19:55 UTC)
- Place
- Stow, MA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N30926Piper J3L-65
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 29, 2007
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20070913019489A
- Case key
- 66666
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
The pilot of a Piper J3L-65, performed a preflight inspection and runup check of the engine without encountering any problems. He then ran the engine to warm it up, and afterward, taxied out to the runway. After another runup, he performed a high-speed taxi and all was normal. He then taxied back for takeoff, performed another runup, and took off. He then flew around the traffic pattern and landed. After taxiing back, he took off for a second time, the engine lost partial power, and the airplane struck trees. The pilot's most recent flight review was completed in December of 2003. The airplane had not flown since December of 2004, but had just received an annual inspection. Examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of any mechanical malfunction.
Factual narrative
According to the pilot of the Piper J3L-65, he performed a preflight inspection and runup check of the engine without encountering any problems. He then ran the engine to warm it up, and afterward, taxied out to the runway. After another runup, he performed a high-speed taxi and all was normal. He then taxied back for takeoff, performed another runup, and took off. He then flew around the traffic pattern and landed. After taxiing back, he took off for a second time, the engine lost partial power, and the airplane struck trees while he was looking for an emergency landing area. According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the pilot's most recent flight review was completed in December of 2003. The airplane had not flown since December of 2004, but had just received an annual inspection. Examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of any mechanical malfunction.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N30926
- Reported as
- Piper J3L-65
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 5205
- Airframe hours
- 1,839.7
- Engine
- Continental A-65-8, 65 hp, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 1, 2007
- Departed
- 6B6 · Stow, MA
- Destination
- 6B6
- Airport
- 6B6 · Minute Man Air Field, runway 3, 2,770 × 48 ft, asphalt
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
- 65
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- December 1, 2003
- Seat
- Rear
- Flight hours
- 1,114 total · 691 in this make and model · 1,010 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 290° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 72 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.15 inHg
- Observed at
- BED, 10 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.