- Date
- April 23, 1994, 13:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place
- Snohomish, WA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N70277Piper J3C-65
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 2, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940423017149A
- Case key
- 41915
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
Poor in-flight planning/decision. A factor to the accident was: high vegetation.
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 reported that he was practicing a simulated engine out landing to an open field. Just prior to touch down, the pilot quickly advanced the throttle. The engine hesitated and the airplane sank to the ground that was covered with tall grass. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane at the time of the accident.
Factual narrative
On April 23, 1994, at 1330 Pacific daylight time, a Piper J3C-65, N70277, collided with the terrain during a simulated engine out procedure to an open field located five miles east of Snohomish, Washington. The airplane was substantially damaged and the private pilot and his passenger were not injured. The flight had originated from Snohomish, on April 23, 1994, at 1300, as a local pleasure flight.
The pilot reported during a telephone interview and subsequent written statement that he was practicing a simulated engine out procedure to the open field. Just before touch down, the pilot stated that he suddenly advanced the throttle and the engine hesitated. The airplane sank to the ground and the landing gear caught in the tall grass. The pilot stated that this engine is equipped with an older carburetor that does not have an accelerator pump. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N70277
- Reported as
- Piper J3C-65
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17258
- Airframe hours
- 4,150
- Engine
- Continental C85-F, 75 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Gillis, Alan A.
- Registered owner
- Gillis, Alan A.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 27, 1993 · 76 hours before
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
- 33
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Rear
- Flight hours
- 852 total · 128 in this make and model · 849 as pilot in command · 35 in the last 90 days · 25 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 290° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 64 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.