# NTSB WPR14CA202: Piper J3C 65, N92090, Tucson, AZ, May 16, 2014

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: May 16, 2014, 13:41 local (20:41 UTC)
- Place: Tucson, AZ
- Coordinates: 32.13861, -111.171386 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.1386&lon=-111.1714&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 5, 2014
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 89256
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR14CA202
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89256/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89256
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14CA202

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 23 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 43 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Wind: sudden wind shift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010/cases.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 114 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010/cases.md)
- [Terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 267 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 28 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 54 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that while on short final, he made note of the wind direction. After touchdown the wind direction changed and he attempted to adjust for the wind shift however, the airplane departed the right side of the runway, traversed on the dirt, and struck a ditch. The landing gear collapsed and the airplane came to a rest on its belly which substantially damaged the fuselage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that while on short final, he made note of the wind direction. After touchdown the wind direction changed and he attempted to adjust for the wind shift however, the airplane departed the right side of the runway, traversed on the dirt, and struck a ditch. The landing gear collapsed and the airplane came to a rest on its belly which substantially damaged the fuselage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N92090](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N92090-2017-06-29), registration cancelled 2017-06-29, S/N 16523, built 1946 (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: 16523
- Year built: 1946
- Engines: CONT MOTOR A&C65 SERIES 65 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Heinz John
- Registered owner: Heinz John
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Destination: RYN, Tucson, AZ
- Flight plan: Unknown
- Airport: RYN, Ryan Field Airport, runway 24L, 5,503 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 69; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observed at: RYN

## 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 20140516006619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140516006619A), May 16, 2014: Piper J3C-65, Tucson, AZ, Substantial damage. Aircraft bounced and lost directional control during landing. Aircraft veered off of the right side of the runway, into a grassy area, and struck a ditch.

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 17, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89256. 28 KB in all.

- Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 1, .PDF, 28 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40419056&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF

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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