Piper J-3 N23227

Summary

On 14 April 1989 at about 20:50 local time, a Piper J-3 registered N23227, operated by Riley, Charles, was involved in an accident near Oak Grove, Missouri, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

14 April 1989 at 20:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Oak Grove, Missouri, United States

Nearest airport

Private

Coordinates

38.9992, -94.1203

Aircraft

Piper J-3

Registration

N23227

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Riley, Charles

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MKC89FA090

2 people died.

THE PILOT'S ATTEMPT TO TAKEOFF WITH THE AIRCRAFT OVER ITS ALLOWABLE TAKEOFF WEIGHT AND OUT OF THE CENTER OF GRAVITY LIMITS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PLT LANDED AT A UNIDIRECTIONAL STRIP THAT REQUIRED LANDINGS TO THE SOUTH & TAKEOFFS TO THE NORTH (DUE TO A HILL NEAR THE SOUTH END OF THE STRIP). LATER, HE INITIATED A TAKEOFF TO THE NORTH WITH A PASSENGER ABOARD. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT IMPACTED TREES ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE 1320' GRASS STIP & CRASHED. THE PLT & PASSENGER WEIGHED 230 & 190 LBS,RESPECTIVELY. WEIGHT & BALANCE INFO INDCD THAT ANY FUEL IN EXCESS OF APRX 4 GAL WOULD HAVE PLACED THE ACFT OVER THE ALLOWABLE TAKEOFF WT & THE ACFT'S CG WELL AFT OF THE ALLOWABLE LIMIT. THE ACFT HAD BEEN MODIFIED BY SHORTENING THE WINGS, ADDING AN ADNL FUEL TANK TO EACH WING, & REPLACING THE CONTINENTAL C-65 ENG WITH A CONTINENTAL O-200-A ENG. ABOUT 23 MI WSW AT RICHARDS-GEBAUR ARPT, THE WIND WAS FROM 190 DEG AT 8 KTS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.