# NTSB WPR21LA302: Piper J3C-65, N946PD, Sandpoint, ID, July 24, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: July 24, 2021, 09:30 local (16:30 UTC)
- Place: Sandpoint, ID
- Coordinates: 48.299451, -116.55979 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.2995&lon=-116.5598&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- NTSB case key (mKey): 103619
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR21LA302
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103619/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103619
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA302

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing with a crosswind which, resulted in a runway excursion and impact with terrain.

## Findings

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

- [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)
- [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)
- [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Takeoff: 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)

## Analysis

The pilot in the tail wheel-equipped airplane reported that, while performing a touch-and-go landing with a slight crosswind from the right, the airplane drifted off the left side of the runway and into a depression in the terrain. The airplane collided with a berm which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N946PD](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N946PD), registered now, S/N 22698, built 1947 (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 C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 22698
- Year built: 1947
- Airframe hours: 605
- Engines: Continental Motors O-200A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Dickerson Aircraft Inc
- Registered owner: Dickerson Aircraft Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special); Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 23, 2020, 53 hours before
- Departed: ID24, Sable, ID
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: SZT, Sandpoint, runway 02/20, 5,501 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Unknown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 74; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: basicmed, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 15, 2021; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 8,200 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 8,000 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 30.19 inHg
- Observed at: KSZT
- METAR: METAR KSZT 241615Z AUTO 0000KT 10SM CLR 20/04 A3019 RMK AO2

## 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 20210724011749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210724011749A), Jul 24, 2021: Piper J3C-65, Sandpoint, ID, Substantial damage. During take-off on runway 02 at Sandpoint Airport szt aircraft drifted to the left off center line and continued to the left into grass medium where aircraft…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 12, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103619. 37.0 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 35.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12803991&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Record of conversation-pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 140 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12804405&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation-Dickerson_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Faa-photo array (item 3, PDF, 6 pages, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12804387&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA-Photo%20Array-Rel.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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