Piper J3C N41427

Summary

On 13 April 2009 at about 23:00 local time, a Piper J3C registered N41427 was involved in an accident near Montrose, Colorado, United States. 2 people were 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

13 April 2009 at 23:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Montrose, Colorado, United States

Nearest airport

Montrose Regional Airport (KMTJ)

Coordinates

38.4907, -107.8694

Aircraft

Piper J3C

Registration

N41427

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Montrose → Steamboat Sprin

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN09CA249

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the pilot, immediately after taking off, the prevailing wind shifted from a headwind to a tailwind and he was unable to maintain the aircraft's heading with the runway's centerline. The airplane was blown toward the runway edge and settled onto the dirt beside the runway. During the rollout, the airplane struck a taxiway location/runway holding position sign midway between the passenger compartment and the empennage, resulting in the empennage being bent approximately 70 degrees to the right. Weather reports at the time of the accident indicated that the wind was variable at 5 knots, with 10-mile visibility and clear skies. The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies with the airplane prior to the accident. An examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical anomalies.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.