NYC98LA051

After landing from a previous flight and refueling, the pilot of the accident flight sat in the rear seat as pilot-in-command (PIC); and the other occupant, who had been PIC on the previous flight, was in the front seat as a pilot-rated passenger (PAX). The pilot described the takeoff and climb as normal, and entered the traffic pattern for a touch-and-go landing. He applied carburetor heat at mid-field on downwind. According to the passenger, when the airplane was close to the runway, it started to drift to the right, and it swerved to the left immediately after touchdown. The airplane swerved back and forth a few times before the pilot added power to go around. The passenger stated the airplane did not climb at a normal rate, and the speed seemed extremely slow. The airplane impacted the tops of trees during the climb. Postaccident examination of the airplane did not revealed any abnormalities of the airframe or engine. The carburetor heat control was observed in the 'on' position. The pilot reported 228 hours of total flight experience, of which 18 were in make and model.

On December 28, 1997, about 1500 eastern standard time, a Piper J-3C-65, N1469N, was substantially damaged when it struck trees during the initial climb after a touch and go landing at the Ohio University Airport (UNI), Albany, Ohio. The certificated private pilot was not injured, and the certificated commercial pilot passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the local flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

In a written statement, the pilot said he and the passenger departed UNI earlier in the day for a local flight with the passenger in the rear seat acting as the pilot in command (PIC). When they returned to UNI the passenger performed three touch and go landings. The pilot in the front seat then performed one touch and go landing, followed by the rear seat passenger performing a landing to a full stop. The pilot further stated:

"After the plane was refueled, sumps drained, and oil checked, [the passenger] got in the front seat and I got in the rear seat as P.I.C. After run-up and mag check, we departed runway 25. Take-off and climb-out was normal. I applied carb heat at mid-field on downwind and reduced power to idle at key position....At touchdown the plane swerved, and I over corrected to the right. I then added full power to go around. As soon as we were airborne, I realized I did not have enough power to climb nor sufficient airspeed to permit maneuvering. The plane continued at approximately 30 degrees to the right of runway center until it hit the top of some small trees at the airport boundary, approximately 250 feet from lift off...."

The passenger stated:

"...When close to the runway, I noticed some drift to the right which [the pilot] started to correct. Upon touchdown, the plane immediately swerved to the left. [The pilot] began corrections. We swerved back and forth a few times. [The pilot] added a short burst or two of power to try to help settle it down. Nearing the taxiway turn off, he added full power to initiate a go-around....After a second or so I noticed that we were not climbing at a normal rate and speed seemed extremely slow...I knew there were trees out there but thought we were climbing enough to clear them...."

Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector did not disclosed any pre-impact abnormalities with the airframe or engine. It was noted that the carburetor heat control was observed in the "on" position.

The pilot reported 227 hours of total flight experience, of which 18 were in make and model.