Piper J3C-65 N7054H

Summary

On 6 December 2006 at about 21:15 local time, a Piper J3C-65 registered N7054H, operated by Delbert E Brown, was involved in an accident near Humnoke, Arkansas, United States. One person was 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

6 December 2006 at 21:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Humnoke, Arkansas, United States

Coordinates

34.5208, -91.7361

Aircraft

Piper J3C-65

Registration

N7054H

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Delbert E Brown

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Humnoke → Humnoke

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DFW07CA035

Nobody was injured.

The loss of engine power during initial takeoff climb for undetermined reasons. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The non-certificated pilot reported that he departed his private airstrip to the north to "ride over his farm." He added that he noticed that the engine was "running strange as if it had water in the fuel." During the initial takeoff climb, the engine lost power while climbing through 300 feet. The best suitable forced landing was a cultivated rice field, so the pilot attempted to land the tailwheel equipped airplane in the field. During the landing roll on the soft terrain, the airplane nosed over and came to rest in the inverted position. The pilot was assisted out of the airplane by his grandson, who witnessed the accident. Examination of the airplane revealed that the airplane sustained structural damage. The reason for the reported loss of engine power could not be determined. Weather was reported as clear skies with light and variable winds.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.