Piper J3C-65 N95480

Summary

On 16 September 2014 at about 15:40 local time, a Piper J3C-65 registered N95480, operated by Haase Steven A, was involved in an accident near Fort Gaines, Georgia, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

16 September 2014 at 15:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Fort Gaines, Georgia, United States

Coordinates

31.5556, -85.0497

Aircraft

Piper J3C-65

Registration

N95480

Category

Airplane

Year built

1942

Engines

1

Operator

Haase Steven A

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Headland → Eufaula

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA14FA455

2 people died.

The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during flight, which resulted in a collision with a river.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot/owner and a pilot-rated passenger were on the first leg of a short, cross-country flight and did not arrive at their destination. A search was initiated, and the wreckage was located a week later in a remote area of a river in about 10 to 15 ft of water. No witnesses to the accident were located. The pilot was found at the rear seat position, and the passenger was found still buckled into the front seat. All major structural components of the airplane were accounted for at the accident site, and flight control continuity was confirmed to the cockpit controls. The engine was removed from the airframe and disassembled; it did not reveal any abnormalities that would have prevented normal operation. The cork-and-rod fuel quantity indicator was bent over and captured in the "empty" position; however, the fuel tank was breached, and the airplane was partially inverted in the water. Automated fueling records revealed that the pilot twice attempted to purchase fuel before the flight but only obtained 0.173 gallon. It could not be determined if the pilot obtained additional fuel from another source. The width of the river provided adequate room for a forced landing; however, the damage to the airframe and the occupants' injuries were consistent with an out-of-control condition at the time of impact.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.