Piper J3C-65 N42522

Summary

On 31 July 2021 at about 16:30 local time, a Piper J3C-65 registered N42522, operated by Cub Air Flight LLC, was involved in an accident near Hartford, Wisconsin, United States. 2 people were on board and one died, one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

31 July 2021 at 16:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Hartford, Wisconsin, United States

Nearest airport

Hartford Muni (HXF)

Coordinates

43.3508, -88.4003

Aircraft

Piper J3C-65

Registration

N42522

Category

Airplane

Year built

1945

Engines

1

Operator

Cub Air Flight LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN21FA345

1 person died.

The flight crew’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack during a simulated engine failure during initial climb after takeoff, which led to an aerodynamic stall/spin and loss of control. Contributing to the severity of the occupants’ injuries was the airplane’s lack of shoulder harnesses.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot receiving instruction reported that they had performed about 10 practice takeoffs and landings before the accident takeoff. On the accident takeoff, when the airplane reached an altitude of 400-500 ft above ground level (agl), the instructor said, “engine failure, turn around for 09”. The pilot receiving instruction later reported that it was unclear from the instructor’s statement whether it was an actual or a simulated engine failure. Both pilots were on the flight controls at the time and started a turn when the airplane entered a “graveyard spin”. The pilot receiving instruction remembered about 1 to 2 seconds of the spin and had no further recollection of the accident. Examination of the flight controls and engine did not reveal any preimpact anomalies that would preclude normal operation. Based on the surviving pilot’s description and the airplane damage signatures, the airplane was in a nose-low, left-wing low attitude at impact. It is likely that the airplane entered an inadvertent stall/spin when the critical angle of attack was exceeded. The surviving pilot was not sure if the airplane’s engine had actually lost power or if the flight instructor was simulating an engine emergency. The lack of engine-related mechanical anomalies and the pilot training purpose of the flight suggest that it was likely a simulated emergency scenario initiated by the flight instructor. The airplane was not equipped with shoulder harnesses and only lap seat belts were installed. Regulations did not require shoulder harnesses to be installed at the time it was manufactured. However, at the time of the accident, several manufacturers offered shoulder harnesses kits that could be retrofitted to the airplane under supplemental type certificate. The investigation determined that the injuries to the occupants were consistent with the use of only lap seat belts. The availability of shoulder harnesses would likely have reduced the severity of the injuries.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.