PIPER J3C-65
Mount Pleasant, TX, May 30, 2010
Event Information
| Date | May 30, 2010 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| Location | Mount Pleasant, TX |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 33.13528, -95.01889 |
| Airport | Glover Airport |
| Highest Injury | NONE |
| NTSB Number | CEN10CA284 |
| Event ID | 20100602X84136 |
Aircraft
| Make | PIPER |
| Model | J3C-65 |
| Registration # | N88117 |
| Category | AIR |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 0 |
| None | 1 |
| Total Injured | 0 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while turning resulting in a stall.
Full Narrative
After takeoff, the pilot noticed the tachometer reading 2,100 RPM and the airspeed was 45-50 miles per hour. He felt the climb performance was less than normal to reach 500 feet above the ground (AGL), where he began a climbing right turn to the crosswind. During the turn he noticed the altitude decreasing, so he tried to recover from the descent. At about 400 feet AGL he felt the airplane sink and start to stall in what he believed was a downdraft. He lowered the nose and started to recover from the stall when the airplane impacted trees. Density altitude was 2,867 feet. No anomalies were found with the airplane.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.