Piper J-3C N88593

Summary

On 17 July 1999 at about 22:23 local time, a Piper J-3C registered N88593 was involved in an accident near Maple Lake, Minnesota, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

17 July 1999 at 22:23

Classification

Accident

Location

Maple Lake, Minnesota, United States

Coordinates

45.2301, -94.0004

Aircraft

Piper J-3C

Registration

N88593

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI99LA235

2 people were seriously injured.

The pilot's inadequate preflight planning that resulted in exceeding the maximum gross weight of the airplane and the subsequent inadvertent aerodynamic stall.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The float plane was flown from one lake to another where the pilot picked up a passenger. The pilot reported that during the second take off, he had pitch problems during the climb and that the nose always wanted to pitch up. At approximately 50 to 100 feet, the airplane started turning to the left and the nose pitched down, followed by a crash in the lake. The pilot stated that he did not do a weight and balance or a performance calculation prior to takeoff. The airplane was found with the elevator trim in the full nose down position. The weight and balance of the airplane dated May 12, 1973, recorded the maximum gross weight of the airplane as 1,294 pounds. The approximate weight of the airplane during the accident flight totaled 1420 pounds.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.