# NTSB SEA95LA115: Piper J3C-65, N28087, Medford, OR, June 6, 1995

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 6, 1995, 10:40 local (17:40 UTC)
- Place: Medford, OR
- Coordinates: 42.330917, -122.790046 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.3309&lon=-122.7900&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 24, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 42162
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA95LA115
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42162/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA95LA115

## Probable cause

AN UNRELIABLE FUEL QUANTITY GAGE AND AN INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT. THE TALL VEGETATION IN THE LANDING AREA WAS A FACTOR.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Nose over, landing - roll
  - precautionary landing - performed, pilot in command
  - terrain condition - high vegetation (contributing factor)
  - engine instruments,fuel quantity gage - unreliable (cause)
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD TAKEN OFF WITH THE NOSE FUEL TANK FULL, HOWEVER, AFTER 15 MINUTES OF FLIGHT, THE PILOT NOTED THAT THE FUEL FLOAT INDICATOR READ ONE-THIRD OF A TANK. A SHORT TIME LATER, THE INDICATOR READ EMPTY. THE PILOT EXECUTED A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING TO AN OPEN FIELD. DURING THE LANDING ROLL IN TALL ALFALFA, THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. DURING AN INSPECTION OF THE FUEL SYSTEM, IT WAS FOUND THAT A WIRE WAS BENT APPROXIMATELY FOUR INCHES ABOVE THE FLOAT AND WAS CREATING A DRAG THROUGH THE CAP. THIS BENT WIRE CREATED AN ERRONEOUS FUEL QUANTITY INDICATION WHEN THE FUEL QUANTITY WAS ACTUALLY LESS.

## Factual narrative

On June 6, 1995, at 1040 Pacific daylight time, a Piper J3C-65, N28087, collided with the terrain and nosed over during the landing roll in an open field after the pilot executed a precautionary landing near Medford, Oregon.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the local flight.  The airplane was substantially damaged and the commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured.

The pilot reported that he took off with the nose tank full of fuel.  Approximately 15 minutes after take off, the pilot noted that the fuel float indicator read about one-third of a tank of fuel.  Approximately 30 seconds later, the pilot noted that the fuel float dropped to indicate an empty fuel tank.  The pilot opted to execute a precautionary landing to an open field.  During the landing roll in tall alfalfa, the airplane nosed over.

A local airframe and powerplant mechanic inspected the airplane and reported that a wire was bent approximately four inches above the float and was creating a drag through the cap.  This bent wire created an erroneous fuel quantity indication of approximately three-quarters of a tank when the fuel quantity was actually less.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N28087](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N28087-2017-06-30), registration cancelled 2017-06-30, S/N 4568, built 1940 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER J3C-65
- Registry model: [Piper J3C-65](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3c-65) (registry code 7100510) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 4568
- Engines: CONTINENTAL A-65 65 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Lambert, John A.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 8, 1994
- Departed: WHITE CITY, OR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 78; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 3, expired; seat: right; flight hours: 1,000 total, 500 in this make and model, 800 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 330° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,600 ft overcast
- Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: MFR, 3 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19950606014549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950606014549A), Jun 6, 1995: Piper J3C65, Medford, OR, Substantial damage. Fuel gage went to zero on climbout. Lost power. Nosed over in alfalfa. Float wire bent. Showed full at near empty.

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.

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