- Date
- September 15, 1985, 14:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place
- Chenango Bridge, NY
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N41440Piper J-3
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19850915044989A
- Case key
- 35966
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
According to the pax after takeoff the aircraft climbed to about 300 feet. The pilot then made a right turn. During the turn the pilot yelled out 'we're losing it, we're losing it.' Afterwards the aircraft descended and impacted the ground. The pax does not recall a decrease in engine power. The pilot does not have recollection of the occurrence. Examination of the aircraft did not disclose evidence of malfunction. The carb ht was found in the on position.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N41440
- Reported as
- Piper J-3
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 8071
- Airframe hours
- 4,342
- Engine
- Teledyne Cont A-75, 75 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Norman & Glenn Green
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 1, 1984 · 15 hours before
- Departed
- 4N2 · Chenango Bridge, NY
- Airport
- 4N2 · Chenango Bridge
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
- 44
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Rear
- Flight hours
- 302 total · 32 in this make and model · 232 as pilot in command · 8 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 280° at 13 knots
- Visibility
- 45 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 64 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- BGM, 8 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.