Piper J3C-65 N98829

Summary

On 14 May 2006 at about 22:15 local time, a Piper J3C-65 registered N98829 was involved in an accident near Paris, Texas, United States. 2 people were on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

14 May 2006 at 22:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Paris, Texas, United States

Coordinates

33.6389, -95.4625

Aircraft

Piper J3C-65

Registration

N98829

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Paris → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DFW06CA126

1 person had minor injuries.

The reported loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain available for the forced landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The 325-hour private pilot stated in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1), that while in cruise flight at 1,100 feet mean sea level (msl), he noted that the oil pressure had fallen below 20 pounds of pressure as he was returning back to his private strip. The pilot stated that he made the decision to prepare for an emergency landing and initiated a descent into a large wheat field that he deemed was best suited for an off-airport landing. The pilot added that while approaching the wheat field, "my motor started to flutter so I got down to the wheat field and that's when my tires got into the wheat and it flipped us over." Examination of the airplane by an Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, who responded to the accident site, revealed that the airplane left wing spar was bent, and the engine firewall was displaced. The inspector also noted that there were no wheel marks evident on the ground. The inspector added that the wheels of the tailwheel-equipped airplane were caught in the tall wheat, which caused the airplane to nose over. The reason for the reported loss of engine power could not be determined. At the time of the accident, the weather was reported as wind from 360 degrees at 13 knots, gusting to 17 knots, 10 statute miles visibility, clear skies, with a temperature of 79 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point of 48 degrees Fahrenheit and an altimeter setting of 30.01 inches of Mercury.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.