- Date
- April 9, 1983, 15:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place
- Spencer, MA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N26182Piper J3C-85
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19830409012429A
- Case key
- 35166
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
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 was warming the eng for a compression check and oil change in preparation for an annual inspection. He stated that he decided to fly the aircraft rather than run the engine on the ground. On tkof a high rate of climb was obtained and at 150 MSL the eng quit. The pilot attempted a 180 degree turn but was unable to clear trees short of the airport. The acft contained only 15-20 minutes of fuel. The pilots rate of climb unported the fuel outlets and starved the engine of fuel. The pilot states that his rate of climb forced the fuel to the rear of the fuel tank away from the outlet pipe.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N26182
- Reported as
- Piper J3C-85
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 4107
- Engine
- Continental 85, 65 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Donald E. Richards
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- MA10 · Spencer, MA
- Airport
- MA10 · Spencer, runway 19, 1,700 × 100 ft, grass/turf
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
- 39
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Rear
- Flight hours
- 900 total · 125 in this make and model · 844 as pilot in command · 5 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 0° at 15 knots
- Visibility
- 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 63 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.