Piper J3F-65 N38857

Summary

On 2 March 1982 at about 21:30 local time, a Piper J3F-65 registered N38857, operated by Milton C Leshe, was involved in an accident near Chandler, Arizona, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

2 March 1982 at 21:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Chandler, Arizona, United States

Nearest airport

Stellar Airpark (P19)

Coordinates

33.3205, -111.8697

Aircraft

Piper J3F-65

Registration

N38857

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Milton C Leshe

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Chandler → Chandler

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX82DA092

2 people had minor injuries.

The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. No probable cause statement is present in the source data.

Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.

Read the full NTSB narrative

WHILE ON A DOWNWIND LEG OF THE TRAFFIC PATTERN, THE PILOT NOTICED A VERY LOUD GRINDING NOISE AS IF THE ENGINE WAS COMING APART. HE STATED THAT THE ENGINE RPM BECAME VERY HIGH. HE ATTEMPTED TO MANEUVER FOR A LANDING ON THE RUNWAY BUT ENTERED A HIGH SINK RATE. THE PILOT THEN REALIZED THAT HE WOULD BE UNABLE TO REACH THE RUNWAY AND ELECTED TO LAND BESIDE A ROAD. HE WAS UNABLE TO COMPLETELY STOP THE SINK RATE WHILE FLARING TO LAND. THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN HARD, THE GEAR COLLAPSED, AND THE FUSELAGE FAILED. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE PROPELLER WAS FOUND IN THE VICINITY OF THE DOWNWIND LEG WHERE IT HAD SEPARATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT. THE PROPELLER HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY REMOVED FROM THE AIRCRAFT WHILE IT WAS IN STORAGE TO PREVENT THE PLANE FROM BEING STOLEN. THE PILOT BELIEVED THAT THE PROPELLER WAS IMPROPERLY SECURED WHEN REINSTALLED.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.