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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

October 10, 1998 · Piper J3C-65 · N70968

Waynesville, OH

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
October 10, 1998
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 serious injuries)
Location
Waynesville, OH
Aircraft
Piper J3C-65
Tail Number
N70968
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
IAD99LA007

The private pilot and passenger departed the airport on a local pleasure flight toward an area where a gathering of 70 people were at a picnic outing. The airplane was observed flying low and slow approximately 100 yards in front of the picnic attendees. The airplane was then observed to pitch up, sharply roll to the right, enter a descending right hand turn, and collided with terrain in a nose down attitude. The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane and that he inadvertently stalled the airplane in a climb. He reported a total of 166 flight hours with 6 total hours in make and model.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed which resulted in an inadvertent stall.

Full Narrative

On October 10, 1998, about 1711 eastern daylight time, a Piper J3C-65, N70968, was destroyed after impacting terrain while maneuvering near Waynesville, Ohio. The certificated private pilot and passenger were seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at Waynesville Airport (401), about 1650. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Aviation Safety Inspector's written report, the airplane was observed flying low and slow over a lake and 100 yards in front of an outing where 70 people had gathered. Eye witnesses observed the airplane pitch up, sharply roll to the right and enter a descending right hand turn. The airplane impacted the ground in a nose down attitude 100 yards to the northeast of the gathering. No ground injuries or property damage was reported. According to witnesses, the engine sounded as if it was operating normally prior to impact. In a written statement the pilot reported the following: "[This was a] recreational flight to take pictures of [a] friend's farm and picnic outing - though I do not recall [the] last part of flight prior to [the] accident, I apparently stalled in [the] climb and collided with [the] ground. I consider this a pilot error for which I am profoundly sorry." The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane. He reported a total of 166 flight hours with 6 in make and model.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time17:11 EDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper J3C-65
Tail NumberN70968
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · A&C 65 SERIES · Reciprocating · 75
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 serious injuries)
Fatal0
Serious2
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 59 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point68 F / 45 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time21:54
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data