Piper J-3 N71027

Summary

On 8 October 2003 at about 19:00 local time, a Piper J-3 registered N71027, operated by Douglas D. Hatton, was involved in an accident near Florence, Indiana, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

8 October 2003 at 19:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Florence, Indiana, United States

Coordinates

38.7833, -84.9667

Aircraft

Piper J-3

Registration

N71027

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Douglas D. Hatton

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Florence → Madison

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI04LA006

Nobody was injured.

The pilot prematurely lifted off during the takeoff with inadequate airspeed which resulted in the airplane stalling. Factors associated with the accident were there unsuitable/rough terrain that the pilot used for takeoff.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane stalled and impacted the terrain during takeoff from a hay field. The pilot reported that during the takeoff he encountered an area in the field where the terrain was "very rough." He stated that the airplane was "bouncing and shaking" and he wanted to get it off the ground as soon as he could. He reported that he pulled back on the stick and the airplane became airborne, but after passing over hay bales and a fence, he was unable to "keep it in the air." He reported that the right wing dropped and contacted the ground. The airplane then spun to the left and came to rest on top of another fence.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.