# NTSB WPR21LA306: Piper J3C-85, N6018H, Woodburn, OR, August 5, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 4, 2021, 17:10 local (Aug 5, 2021, 00:10 UTC) - Place: Woodburn, OR · near the Lower Lambert Bar - Coordinates: 45.16105, -123.00217 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.1611&lon=-123.0022&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 2 uninjured; on the ground: 1 serious - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 103649 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR21LA306 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103649/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103649 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA306 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance during takeoff from a person on the ground who sustained a serious injury as a result of the collision. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Object/animal/substance: person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022035): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022035/cases.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022035/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that, while taking off from a gravel bar, as the airplane became airborne over the river, he felt a bump. The passenger reported that they hit something, however the pilot stated that he never say anyone until he continued the climbed and circled over the area, where he noticed a kayaker on the river. He elected to land on a gravel bar near the kayaker, render first aid, and call for medical assistance. The kayaker reported that, while on the Willamette River, she and her mother stopped and rested near the Lower Lamber Bar area, where they observed an airplane on one of the sand bars. After resting, they continued traveling down the river. While paddling in the kayak, she turned towards the sand bar and observed the airplane approaching her. Shortly thereafter, the front tire of the airplane hit her head and overturned the kayak. The kayaker sustained a serious broken leg. The airplane was not damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6018H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6018H), registered now, S/N 19158, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER J3C-85 - 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: 19158 - Year built: 1946 - Airframe hours: 5180 - Engines: Continental C-85-12F 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: No damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Twin Oaks Airpark Inc - Registered owner: Twin Oaks Airpark Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 21, 2021, 3 hours before - Departed: 7S3, Hillsboro, OR - Destination: McMinnville, OR - Airport: NA, Na - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 19, 2021; seat: rear; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 5,900 total, 800 in this make and model, 5,800 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1.5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 97 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.86 inHg - Observed at: KUAO, 11 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 20210804015969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210804015969A), Aug 4, 2021: Piper J3C-65, Daton, OR, No damage. Wednesday August 4, 2021 at 5:08 pm local time a woman was hit by a small plane while kayaking on the willamette river in yamhill county. The aircraft had just… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 6, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103649. 810 KB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 597 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12593646&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR21LA306%20PilotOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of phone conversation (terra grimes) (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 213 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12662816&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20phone%20conversation%20(Terra%20Grimes)-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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.