Piper J3L-65 N38262

Summary

On 5 September 2013 at about 21:00 local time, a Piper J3L-65 registered N38262, operated by Patrick Paul Williams, was involved in an accident near Nondalton, Alaska, 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

5 September 2013 at 21:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Nondalton, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

60.2086, -155.2833

Aircraft

Piper J3L-65

Registration

N38262

Category

Airplane

Year built

1941

Engines

1

Operator

Patrick Paul Williams

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Port Alsworth → Port Alsworth

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC13LA102

Nobody was injured.

The fracture and subsequent failure of the No. 4 cylinder exhaust valve during cruise flight, which resulted in a total loss of engine power.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, while the airplane was in level cruise flight, he heard a loud "pop," followed by a total loss of engine power. He subsequently made a forced landing to an open, tundra-covered site. During the forced landing, the airplane nosed over, which resulted in substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. A postaccident examination of the engine revealed a fractured exhaust valve stem on the No. 4 cylinder, which subsequently pulverized the electrodes on both sparks plugs and severely damaged the piston.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.