Piper J3F-50 N26811

Summary

On 3 February 2021 at about 20:30 local time, a Piper J3F-50 registered N26811, operated by Jacobs James A, was involved in an accident near Weidman, Michigan, United States. One person was 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

3 February 2021 at 20:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Weidman, Michigan, United States

Nearest airport

Ojibwa Airpark (D11)

Coordinates

43.7206, -85.0022

Aircraft

Piper J3F-50

Registration

N26811

Category

Airplane

Year built

1940

Engines

1

Operator

Jacobs James A

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Mount Pleasant → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN21LA123

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from terrain during a low approach over a snow-covered runway. Contributing to the accident was the loss of depth perception due to the bright sunlight and snow.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot flew a low-altitude approach over a snow-covered runway. During the approach his depth perception was degraded from the bright sunlight that reflected off of the snow. The landing gear hit the snow and the airplane subsequently nosed over, which resulted in substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operations.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.