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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

July 7, 2002 · Piper J3-C65 · N9264

Andover, NJ

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 7, 2002
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (1 serious injury, 1 minor injury)
Location
Andover, NJ
Aircraft
Piper J3-C65
Tail Number
N9264
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
NYC02LA133

The private pilot was receiving training for tailwheel endorsement. Near the end of the flight, and after completing a landing, the private pilot climbed the airplane to 600 feet and turned crosswind. At 700 feet, the flight instructor reduced power to simulate an engine failure. The private pilot "kept pulling the nose up," and the flight instructor told him three times to "keep the nose down." The private pilot turned the airplane 90 degrees, towards the airstrip. He let the airplane "get too slow and low," and the flight instructor took control. As he did so, the airplane stalled and entered a right spin. The flight instructor recovered from the spin about 30 feet above the ground, added power, and saw trees ahead. He turned the airplane steeply to avoid the trees, and during the rollout from the steep turn, the airplane's left wing impacted the ground.

NTSB Probable Cause

The flight instructor's delayed remedial action, and the private pilot's failure to maintain airspeed, which resulted in an inadvertent stall/spin.

Full Narrative

On July 7, 2002, about 0950 eastern daylight time, a Piper J3-C65, N9264, was substantially damaged when it impacted the ground near Trinca Airport (13N), Andover, New Jersey. The certificated flight instructor was seriously injured, and the certificated private pilot received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. No flight plan had been filed for the local instructional flight, which was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot was receiving training for a tailwheel endorsement. According to the flight instructor, after completing a landing, the private pilot climbed the airplane to 600 feet above the ground, and turned crosswind. At 700 feet, the flight instructor reduced power to simulate an engine failure. The private pilot "kept pulling the nose up," and the flight instructor told him three times to "keep the nose down." The private pilot turned the airplane 90 degrees, towards the airstrip. He then let the airplane "get too slow and low," and the flight instructor took control of the airplane. As he did so, the airplane stalled and entered a right spin. The flight instructor recovered from the spin about 30 feet above the ground, added power, and saw trees ahead. He turned the airplane steeply to avoid trees. However, during the rollout from the steep turn, the airplane's left wing impacted the ground. The flight instructor further added that the accident occurred near the end of the instructional flight, and that the maneuver was the last one before the final landing. He also noted that the private pilot had successfully completed the maneuver three times during the same flight.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time09:50 EDT
Nearest AirportTRINCA (0nm)
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper J3-C65
Tail NumberN9264
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · C65 · Reciprocating · 65
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (1 serious injury, 1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 42 · Second Class · Serious
Crew 2Age 54 · Third Class · Minor

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind360° @ 5 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point57
Altimeter30.14 inHg
Observation Time14:45
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data