# NTSB WPR23LA311: Piper J3C-65, N3609K, Miles City, MT, August 11, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: August 10, 2023, 18:00 local (Aug 11, 2023, 00:00 UTC)
- Place: Miles City, MT · Ranch
- Coordinates: 46.07895, -105.34063 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.0789&lon=-105.3406&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 192865
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA311
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192865/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192865
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA311

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane while landing on unimproved terrain.

## Findings

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

- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)
- [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) (defining event); 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)

## Analysis

The pilot was relocating the airplane to a hangar on his ranch. The pilot reported that the airplane did not climb as he expected after takeoff with a headwind to the west. About 100 ft above ground level (agl), the pilot initiated a left turn to the east to perform a precautionary landing to unimproved terrain. Subsequently, the airplane impacted terrain resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage and left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3609K](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3609K), registered now, S/N 22299 (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: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 22299
- Engines: Continental O-200 reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Balsam Shane C
- Registered owner: Balsam Shane C
- Airworthiness certificate: Unknown
- Destination: Same as departure
- Equipment: Unknown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 56; injuries: serious; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 280° at 15 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter: 29.70 inHg
- Observed at: KMLS, 31 nm away
- METAR: KMLS 102353Z AUTO 28015G22KT 10SM SCT110 31/05 A2970 RMK AO2 SLP037 T03060050 10311 20261 58004

## 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 20230810010639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230810010639A), Aug 10, 2023: Piper J3C-65, Miles City, MT, Substantial damage. Pilot took off from un-imporverd field. During climb-out pilot experienced a sudden loss of power and crashed into a field. Aircraft propeller contacted ground…

## Other investigations on N3609K (2)

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.

- [NTSB FTW91FA085](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW91FA085), May 25, 1991: Piper J3C-65 (N3609K), Claremore, OK, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT (PIC) DID NOT MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM OBSTACLES DURING THE MANEUVER.
- [NTSB LAX68D0355](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX68D0355), Mar 5, 1968: Piper J3C-65 (N3609K), Tucson, AZ, substantial damage

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 2, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192865. 804 KB in all.

- Mor- pilot (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17021966&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20-%20pilot%20311-Rel.pdf
- Accident photo (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 740 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17021550&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20311-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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