Piper J3C N49614

Summary

On 25 August 2019 at about 21:25 local time, a Piper J3C registered N49614 was involved in an accident near Russiaville, Indiana, 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

25 August 2019 at 21:25

Classification

Accident

Location

Russiaville, Indiana, United States

Coordinates

40.4053, -86.2428

Aircraft

Piper J3C

Registration

N49614

Category

Airplane

Year built

1945

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Frankfort → Huntington

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN19TA293

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to reinstall the oil cap after adding oil, which resulted to oil starvation and a precaautionary landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot and passenger were en route on a multi-leg cross-country flight when the pilot noticed oil on the side window and the oil pressure gauge indicated a loss of oil pressure. The pilot was not sure that the engine would continue to run if he diverted to the nearest grass strip, so he executed a precautionary landing to a field, which substantially damaged right wing ribs and spar. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the oil cap was missing; it was later located at the last departure airport. The pilot stated that he was in a hurry to depart and did not properly reinstall or secure the oil cap. The did not reveal other mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operations.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.