Piper J3 N40621

Summary

On 7 December 2001 at about 16:09 local time, a Piper J3 registered N40621 was involved in an accident near Livermore Falls, Maine, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

7 December 2001 at 16:09

Classification

Accident

Location

Livermore Falls, Maine, United States

Nearest airport

Bowman Field Airport (B10)

Coordinates

44.4111, -70.1453

Aircraft

Piper J3

Registration

N40621

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Oxford County → Livermore Falls

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

IAD02LA019

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's failure to maintain proper altitude clearance while landing, which resulted in a collision with trees. A factor was the crosswind.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot departed on a pleasure flight and was approaching his destination. He intended to land on runway 20, a 2,350 foot-long, 125 foot wide turf strip. When he arrived at the airport, the wind sock was straight out in a direct crosswind to the runway. While on approach to land, the pilot stated that he was "slipping in." He added that while on final he was too low, and he realized that he was going to hit the trees. He leveled the wings, and "clipped" the trees. The airplane was spun 180 degrees, and came to rest on the ground. The pilot reported that it had been about 6 years since his most recent biennial flight review, and about 7 years since his last FAA medical examination. A weather observation, at an airport about 15 miles from the accident site included winds from 290 degrees at 15 knots, gusting to 23 knots.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.