Piper J3C-65 N88313

Summary

On 13 March 2013 at about 18:40 local time, a Piper J3C-65 registered N88313, operated by Freeman Heritage Collection LLC, was involved in an accident near Seguin, 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

13 March 2013 at 18:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Seguin, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Old Kingsbury (85TE)

Coordinates

29.5703, -97.9669

Aircraft

Piper J3C-65

Registration

N88313

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Freeman Heritage Collection LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Seguin → Seguin

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN13LA193

1 person had minor injuries.

The partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be undetermined because an examination of the engine did not reveal any malfunctions or failures that would preclude normal operation.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The flight instructor and student pilot planned on departing from a private grass airfield and fly to another airfield, in order to refuel the airplane before practicing landings. The instructor reported that the airplane had 3 gallons of fuel onboard. Shortly after takeoff, when the airplane was about 200 feet in the air, the flight instructor realized engine power was decreasing. The instructor reported that the throttle was already at full power and with obstacles ahead, he elected to turn back to the departure runway. The instructor made a 150-degree turn, but was unable to recover from the turn, and the left wing impacted terrain. The instructor added that the engine may have had carburetor icing, though he did not apply carburetor heat. An automated weather station located about 13 miles west of the accident site, reported, temperature 72 degrees F, and a dew point of 36 degrees F. A review of the carburetor icing probability chart, indicated that the airplane was operating in an area that was associated with a risk of carburetor ice formation, at glide and cruise power. A visual examination of the airplane revealed that the carburetor and gascolator were broken off during the impact, and the fuel tank was empty. No malfunctions or failures were noted that would have precluded normal operation. A reason for the loss of power was not determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.