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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 20, 1986 · Piper J3C-65 · N88379

Bethany, NY

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 20, 1986
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Bethany, NY
Aircraft
Piper J3C-65
Tail Number
N88379
Operator
Francis Mckinney
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
NYC86FFJ01

THE ACFT CRASHED ON THE ARPT AFTER A TURN OF APRX 120 DEGREES TO AVOID 60 FT TREES AT THE DEPARTURE EDGE OF THE ARPT. THE PLT HAD USED THE GRASS BESIDE THE AIRSTRIP BECAUSE OF STANDING WATER AT PLACES ON THE RWY. THE TAKEOFF RUN WAS STARTED ABOUT 500 FT FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE RWY ON THE HAY STUBBLE ADJACENT TO THE HANGAR. AUTO FUEL WAS BEING USED WITHOUT STC AUTHORIZATION. THE PLT STATED THAT THE ACFT SEEMED TO STOP CLIMBING AT ABOUT 50 FT AGL AND HE THOUGHT HE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO CLEAR THE TREES AHEAD. DURING THE TURN THE ACFT STALLED AND WAS LANDED WITH THROTTLE STILL FULL OPEN ACCORDING TO THE PLT. THE THROTTLE WAS CLOSED AS THE PLANE APPROACHED SMALL TREES AND A HEDGE ROW. THESE TREES WERE HIT BY THE RT WING AND THE ACFT SWUNG RT TO A STOP. THE PLT SAID LATER THAT HE FOUND THE ELEVATOR TRIM ALMOST ALL THE WAY NOSE DOWN WHICH MADE HIM THINK THAT THE ACFT WOULD NOT CLIMB. HE SAID THAT THE 200 LB ACFT OWNER HAD FLOWN THE ACFT ON ITS LAST FLT AND SINCE HE SAT IN THE REAR SEAT HAD TRIMMED THE ACFT NOSE HEAVY.

Full Narrative

THE ACFT CRASHED ON THE ARPT AFTER A TURN OF APRX 120 DEGREES TO AVOID 60 FT TREES AT THE DEPARTURE EDGE OF THE ARPT. THE PLT HAD USED THE GRASS BESIDE THE AIRSTRIP BECAUSE OF STANDING WATER AT PLACES ON THE RWY. THE TAKEOFF RUN WAS STARTED ABOUT 500 FT FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE RWY ON THE HAY STUBBLE ADJACENT TO THE HANGAR. AUTO FUEL WAS BEING USED WITHOUT STC AUTHORIZATION. THE PLT STATED THAT THE ACFT SEEMED TO STOP CLIMBING AT ABOUT 50 FT AGL AND HE THOUGHT HE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO CLEAR THE TREES AHEAD. DURING THE TURN THE ACFT STALLED AND WAS LANDED WITH THROTTLE STILL FULL OPEN ACCORDING TO THE PLT. THE THROTTLE WAS CLOSED AS THE PLANE APPROACHED SMALL TREES AND A HEDGE ROW. THESE TREES WERE HIT BY THE RT WING AND THE ACFT SWUNG RT TO A STOP. THE PLT SAID LATER THAT HE FOUND THE ELEVATOR TRIM ALMOST ALL THE WAY NOSE DOWN WHICH MADE HIM THINK THAT THE ACFT WOULD NOT CLIMB. HE SAID THAT THE 200 LB ACFT OWNER HAD FLOWN THE ACFT ON ITS LAST FLT AND SINCE HE SAT IN THE REAR SEAT HAD TRIMMED THE ACFT NOSE HEAVY.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time11:00 EST
Nearest AirportBethany Hales Airstrip (0nm N)
Runway27
Runway Length2500 ft
Runway Width50 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper J3C-65
Tail NumberN88379
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorFrancis Mckinney
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · C-65 · Reciprocating · 65
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 56 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind270° @ 9 kt
Visibility20 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point50 / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data