# NTSB SEA01LA103: Piper J3F-65, N29042, Brush Prairie, WA, May 21, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 21, 2001, 15:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Brush Prairie, WA - Coordinates: 45.729549, -122.449356 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.7295&lon=-122.4494&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 2, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 52340 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA01LA103 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52340/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA01LA103 ## Probable cause The first pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during a high-speed taxi maneuver. Tall grass adjacent to the runway was a factor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Nose over, taxi - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - terrain condition - grass (contributing factor) ## Analysis The first pilot, a certified flight instructor, and the second pilot, a private pilot receiving instruction, were back taxing on the westbound turf runway. The first pilot said that during the high-speed taxi maneuver, the airplane veered to the left. He stated he compensated by applying rudder; however, the airplane continued to the left, encountered tall grass, and nosed over. The pilot reported that the winds at the time of the accident were from the northwest at 10-15 knots. No mechanical difficulties or malfunctions were reported. ## Factual narrative On May 21, 2001, about 1530 Pacific daylight time, a Piper J3F-65 airplane, N29042, sustained substantial damage subsequent to a nose-over at a private airstrip near Brush Prairie, Washington. The airplane is owned and operated by Paulsons Aircraft, Vancouver, Washington, and was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) instructional flight under the provisions of Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The first pilot, a certified flight instructor, and the second pilot, a private pilot receiving instruction, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local instructional flight. The flight originated at Evergreen Field, Vancouver, Washington, approximately 30 minutes prior to the accident. During a conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board on May 24, the instructor pilot stated that he and the second pilot were back taxiing on the westbound turf runway. The pilot said that during the high-speed taxi maneuver, the airplane veered to the left. He stated he compensated by applying rudder; however, the airplane continued to the left, encountered tall grass, and nosed over. The pilot reported that the winds at the time of the accident were from the northwest at 10-15 knots. No mechanical difficulties or malfunctions were reported. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N29042](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N29042), registered now, S/N 6013, built 1940 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper J3F-65 - Registry model: [Piper J3F-65](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3f-65) (registry code 7100536) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Franklin 4AC176B series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/franklin-4ac176b-series) (registry code 27006, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 6013 - Airframe hours: 5540 - Engines: Continental C-85-12F 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Evergreen Flying Service - Registered owner: Paulsons Aircraft - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 21, 2001, 77 hours before - Departed: 59S, VANCOUVER, WA - Destination: Brush Prairie, WA - Airport: Brush Prairie ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 21; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review December 1, 2000; seat: front; flight hours: 716 total, 230 in this make and model, 634 as pilot in command, 350 in the last 90 days, 120 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 19; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review March 6, 2001; seat: rear; flight hours: 66 total, 2 in this make and model, 30 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 15 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20010521010059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010521010059A), May 21, 2001: Piper J3F65, Brush Prairie, WA, No damage. (.19)On may 21, 2001, about 1430 pacific daylight time, a Piper J3F-65 airplane, N29042, sustained substantial damage subsequent to a nose-over at a private… ## Other investigations on N29042 (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB CEN16LA239](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA239), Jun 27, 2016: Piper J3F 65 (N29042), Strasburg, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: A partial loss of engine power due to carburetor ice accumulation. From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.