Piper J-3C-85 N6301H

Summary

On 15 August 1993 at about 20:04 local time, a Piper J-3C-85 registered N6301H, operated by Dahl, David & Michael, was involved in an accident near Salol, Minnesota, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

15 August 1993 at 20:04

Classification

Accident

Location

Salol, Minnesota, United States

Coordinates

48.8609, -95.5709

Aircraft

Piper J-3C-85

Registration

N6301H

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Dahl, David & Michael

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Aerial Observation

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI93FA322

2 people died.

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED RESULTING IN AN AERODYNAMIC STALL. THE PILOT'S LACK OF RECENT FLIGHT EXPERIENCE IS A RELATED FACTOR.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PURPOSE OF THE FLIGHT WAS AERIAL OBSERVATION OF A WHEAT FIELD. WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE MANEUVERING AT LOW ALTITUDES (LESS THAN 100 FEET AGL), BEFORE IT PITCHED NOSE UP AND BANKED TO THE LEFT INTO THE GROUND. A POSTIMPACT FIRE ENSUED. POSTACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF PREIMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION. RECORDS INDICATE THE PILOT HAD APPROXIMATELY 435 HOURS TOTAL FLIGHT TIME, OF WHICH ABOUT 390 HOURS WERE IN THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE. THE AIRPLANE CO-OWNER STATED THE PILOT HAD FLOWN LESS THAN TWO HOURS IN THE PRECEDING EIGHT MONTHS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.