# NTSB SEA96LA202: Piper J3C-65, N7127P, Mapleton, UT, August 25, 1996

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 24, 1996, 19:30 local (Aug 25, 1996, 01:30 UTC)
- Place: Mapleton, UT
- Coordinates: 40.120319, -111.569534 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1203&lon=-111.5695&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 28, 1997
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 42454
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA96LA202
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42454/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA96LA202

## Probable cause

the pilot's improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

The pilot had departed the Provo airport for a flight to a cow pasture. During a flare to land at the cow pasture, the pilot stalled the aircraft about ten feet above the ground. Subsequently, the aircraft landed hard on the right main gear and was substantially damaged.

## Factual narrative

On August 24, 1996, about 1930 mountain daylight time, a Piper J3C-65, N7127P, collided with terrain during an off airport landing in a pasture.  The airplane, registered to the pilot, sustained substantial damage.  The certificated private pilot was not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed.

The pilot reported that he was intending to land in a pasture when he stalled about ten feet above the ground and landed hard on the right main gear.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7127P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7127P), registered now, S/N 3910 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Piper J3C-65
- Registry model: [Piper J3C-65](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3c-65) (registry code 7100510) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 3398058
- Airframe hours: 2565
- Engines: Continental C85-12F 85 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Bridge, Rodney J.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 28, 1995, 44 hours before
- Departed: PVU, PROVO, UT

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: rear; flight hours: 1,000 total, 150 in this make and model, 920 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 37 °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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19960824024309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960824024309A), Aug 24, 1996: Piper J3C65, Mapleton, UT, Substantial damage. Trying to land in a pasture. Stalled on flare 10FT AGL. Impacted hard on right main gear.

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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