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NTSB Report

August 11, 2001 · Piper J3C-65 · N6153H

Gasport, NY

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 11, 2001
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury), 1 uninjured
Location
Gasport, NY
Aircraft
Piper J3C-65
Tail Number
N6153H
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
NYC01LA208

The wind was reported as calm at an airport about 15 miles away from the departure airport. The pilot stated that at the departure airport, the windsock indicated winds from the west at 5 to 10 knots. He departed on runway 27, a 1,650-foot long, 50-foot wide, grass runway. The pilot further stated that during the initial climb, the airplane encountered light turbulence while climbing above the tree line. The airplane did not seem to climb as it normally would have. The pilot avoided the first hangar at the end of the runway by making a shallow turn to the left, but he could not avoid the second hangar. The airplane struck the second hangar and came to rest on the roof. The pilot added that there were no mechanical problems with the airplane. The second hangar was located about 75 to 100 left of the runway centerline, and set back from the first hangar that the pilot initially avoided. The second hangar was approximately 12 feet high and 50 feet wide, with a flat roof. The airplane was resting about 30 degrees nose down, into the roof of the hangar, and oriented to a heading of about 180 degrees. The engine and cockpit area forward of the wings had protruded through the hangar roof. The underside of the fuselage was buckled, but there was no apparent structural damage to the wings. Aside from the impact on the hangar roof, the airplane did not collide with any other structures. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector stated that runway 27 was maintained, and the grass was recently mowed. He added that, the airplane was within the weight and balance limitations during the takeoff.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to obtain a proper climb airspeed which resulted in an inadvertent stall and subsequent impact with a hangar.

Full Narrative

On August 11, 2001, about 1745 eastern daylight time, a Piper J3C-65, N6153H, was substantially damaged during takeoff from Royalton Airport (9G5), Gasport, New York. The certificated commercial pilot was not injured, and the passenger suffered minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot stated that the windsock indicated winds from the west at 5 to 10 knots. He departed on runway 27, a 1,650-foot long, 50-foot wide, grass runway. The pilot further stated, "During the initial climb the aircraft encountered light turbulence while climbing above the height of the tree line next to the runway. The aircraft did not seem to climb as it normally would have. I avoided the first hangar at the end of the runway by making a shallow turn to the left, but I could not avoid the second hangar. The aircraft struck the second hangar where it came to rest on the roof." The pilot added that there were no mechanical problems with the airplane. The passenger stated that she did not recall the crash. She remembered the pilot screaming just before the impact, and then remembered trying to get out of the airplane. The airplane came to rest on the roof of a hangar that was located about 75 to 100 left of the runway centerline, and set back from the hangar that the pilot initially avoided. The damaged hangar was approximately 12 feet high and 50 feet wide, with a flat roof that sloped rearward. The airplane was resting about 30 degrees nose down, into the roof of the hangar, and oriented to a heading of about 180 degrees. The engine and cockpit area forward of the wings had protruded through the hangar roof. The underside of the fuselage was buckled, but there was no apparent structural damage to the wings. Aside from the impact on the hangar roof, the airplane did not collide with any other structures. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector stated that runway 27 was maintained, and the grass was recently mowed. Additionally, the airplane was within the weight and balance limitations during the takeoff. The reported weather at an airport approximately 15 miles southwest of the accident site, at 1754, was: wind calm; visibility 10 miles; scattered clouds at 5,000 feet; temperature 81 degrees F; dew point 61 degrees F; altimeter 30.04 inches Hg.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time17:45 EDT
Nearest AirportRoyalton Airport (0nm)
Runway27
Runway Length1650 ft
Runway Width50 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper J3C-65
Tail NumberN6153H
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · A-65-8F · Reciprocating · 65
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury), 1 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured1
Total2
Crew 1Age 26 · First Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point61 F
Altimeter30.04 inHg
Observation Time22:54
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data