Piper J3C-65 N88631

Summary

On 3 July 1995 at about 21:30 local time, a Piper J3C-65 registered N88631, operated by John D. Noling, was involved in an accident near North Benton, Ohio, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

3 July 1995 at 21:30

Classification

Accident

Location

North Benton, Ohio, United States

Nearest airport

North Benton (NONE)

Coordinates

40.9803, -81.0107

Aircraft

Piper J3C-65

Registration

N88631

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

John D. Noling

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC95LA151

1 person was seriously injured.

FUEL STARVATION FOR AN UNKNOWN REASON, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER; AND FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT DEPARTED ON A LOCAL TEST FLIGHT. HE REPORTED THAT THE TEMPERATURE WAS 96 DEGREES (F), AND THAT HE BELIEVED THE AIRPLANE HAD NOT BEEN FLOWN IN THE PRECEDING 6 MONTHS. WHILE ON INITIAL CLIMB, AT AN ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 75 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. DURING AN EMERGENCY DESCENT, THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. A WITNESS SAW THE AIRPLANE DESCENDING IN A NOSE DOWN, LEFT WING DOWN ATTITUDE BEFORE IT CRASHED. AN FAA INSPECTOR REPORTED THAT FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE FUEL STRAINER, BUT NOT IN THE CARBURETOR, AND THAT THE FUEL LINE WAS NOT BLOCKED. THE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN SERVICED WITH AUTOMOBILE FUEL AND HAD BEEN EXPOSED TO THE 'HOT SUN' FOR SEVERAL HOURS BEFORE THE FLIGHT. THE FAA INSPECTOR THOUGHT THAT THE POWER LOSS MIGHT HAVE BEEN FROM A VAPOR LOCK, BUT THIS WAS NOT VERIFIED.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.