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NTSB Report
August 30, 2020 · Piper J3 · N88204
Hartford, WI
Overview
Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 30, 2020
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Hartford, WI
Aircraft
Piper J3 (1946)
Tail Number
N88204
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CEN20LA436
The pilot planned a personal flight to a nearby airport that had recently added new runways. Before the flight, his flight instructor sent him an airport diagram with the new grass runway marked, which was parallel to an asphalt runway. After the pilot reviewed the diagram, he thought he knew where to expect the new grass runway. While in the traffic pattern at the destination airport, the pilot noticed a large open grass space below him, so he landed the airplane. The pilot landed to the east but thought he had landed to the west. The area that he landed on was not the grass runway; while completing a fast taxi, the airplane collided with a runway marker for the north-south runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and left wing spar.
NTSB Probable Cause
The pilot’s loss of situation awareness which resulted in landing in a grass area and the subsequent collision with a runway marker.
Full Narrative
The pilot planned a personal flight to a nearby airport that had recently added new runways. Before the flight, his flight instructor sent him an airport diagram with the new grass runway marked, which was parallel to an asphalt runway. After the pilot reviewed the diagram, he thought he knew where to expect the new grass runway. While in the traffic pattern at the destination airport, the pilot noticed a large open grass space below him, so he landed the airplane. The pilot landed to the east but thought he had landed to the west. The area that he landed on was not the grass runway; while completing a fast taxi, the airplane collided with a runway marker for the north-south runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and left wing spar.
Flight
Event TypeAccident
Event Time17:30 CDT
Nearest AirportHartford Municipal Airport (0nm)
Runway09
Runway Length2000 ft
Runway Width200 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo
Aircraft
AircraftPiper J3
Tail NumberN88204
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · C90-12F · Reciprocating · 90
Seats2
People & Injuries
Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 61 · Sprt · None
Conditions
ConditionsVMC
LightDusk
Wind100° @ 6 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point64 F / 52
Altimeter29.89 inHg
Observation Time17:35
Weather SourceWFAC