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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

April 15, 1995 · Piper J3C · N6673H

Poplar Grove, IL

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 15, 1995
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Poplar Grove, IL
Aircraft
Piper J3C
Tail Number
N6673H
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CHI95LA127

AFTER LANDING, THE COMMERCIAL CERTIFICATED STUDENT BEGAN TO TURN THE AIRPLANE TO BACK TAXI TO THE END OF THE RUNWAY TO TAKEOFF AGAIN BY ADVANCING THE THROTTLE AND APPLYING THE LEFT BRAKE. AS THE AIRPLANE TURNED PERPENDICULAR TO THE RUNWAY, THE INSTRUCTOR ASSISTED THE STUDENT WITH DEPRESSING THE BRAKE BECAUSE SHE WAS HAVING SOME DIFFICULTY. THE THROTTLE WAS FORWARD AND AS THE INSTRUCTOR RELEASED THE PRESSURE OFF THE BRAKE, THE AIRPLANE'S TAIL BEGAN TO LIFT OFF THE GROUND. THE INSTRUCTOR PULLED THE THROTTLE TO THE IDLE POSITION, BUT THE TAIL CONTINUED TO RISE. THE INSTRUCTOR STATED THAT IT APPEARED THAT THE WIND GOT UNDER THE TAIL AND CONTINUED TO MAKE IT RISE. THE PROPELLER STRUCK THE GROUND AND THE AIRPLANE BECAME INVERTED.

NTSB Probable Cause

The student pilot's excessive throttle control and the certified flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the student. A factor in the accident was the gusty wind conditions.

Full Narrative

On April 15, 1995, at 1600 central daylight time, a Piper J-3 Cub, N6673H, registered to Belvidere Aviation Inc., of Popular Grove, Illinois, was substantially damaged while taxiing after landing at Belvidere Ltd Airport, Popular Grove, Illinois. Neither the certified flight instructor nor the commercial certificated student pilot reported injuries. The local 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight operated in visual meteorological conditions without flight plan. The instructor stated that after the student pilot made a three point landing on runway 9, she began to turn the airplane to back taxi to the end of the runway to takeoff again by advancing the throttle and applying the left brake. As the airplane turned perpendicular to the runway, the instructor stated that the student had some difficultly "...getting the brake so I depressed it for her until she got it. I then released it." The throttle was still forward, and the airplane's tail began to lift off of the ground. The instructor pulled the throttle to the idle position, but he stated, "it appeared the wind got under the tail and continued to raise it." The propeller struck the ground and the airplane became inverted.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time16:00 CDT
Nearest AirportBelvidere Airport (0nm)
Runway9
Runway Length2500 ft
Runway Width200 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper J3C
Tail NumberN6673H
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · C85-12F · Reciprocating · 85

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 25 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind90° @ 15 kt, gusting 20 kt
Visibility7 sm
CeilingOvercast 5000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point50 / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data