Piper J3C-65 N3504K

Summary

On 17 June 2011 at about 21:45 local time, a Piper J3C-65 registered N3504K, operated by HOP Props LLC, was involved in an accident near Shepard, Texas, United States. One person was 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

17 June 2011 at 21:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Shepard, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Lake Water Wheels (XS99)

Coordinates

30.4692, -94.9075

Aircraft

Piper J3C-65

Registration

N3504K

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

HOP Props LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Shepard → Shepard

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN11CA406

1 person had minor injuries.

the pilot's loss of aircraft control after encountering windshear and turbulence on takeoff.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot departed to practice touch-and-go takeoffs and landings. He said the sky was clear and the wind was blowing directly down the runway about 5 to 10 knots during the takeoff roll. When the airplane reached an altitude of 50 feet, the pilot encountered turbulent updrafts and downdrafts, which caused him to have a difficult time controlling the airplane. He tried to abort the take off, but the airplane encountered an updraft and was turned almost 90 degrees to the right, and was pushed over a heavily wooded area adjacent to the runway. The airplane stalled and collided with trees in a near vertical nose down attitude causing substantial damage to the wings and vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.