Piper J3C-65 N21609

Summary

On 9 May 2013 at about 23:24 local time, a Piper J3C-65 registered N21609 was involved in an accident near Selma, North Carolina, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 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

9 May 2013 at 23:24

Classification

Accident

Location

Selma, North Carolina, United States

Nearest airport

No Identifier (None)

Coordinates

35.5675, -78.2833

Aircraft

Piper J3C-65

Registration

N21609

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Smithfield → Smithfield

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Dusk

NTSB number

ERA13CA234

2 people had minor injuries.

The instructor pilot’s inadequate visual lookout, which resulted in a collision with power lines and then the ground.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the instructor pilot, he was at the airplane controls while he demonstrated a touch and go landing with the student pilot. He stated that the airplane collided with unmarked power lines during an attempt to land on an undesignated grass strip. The airplane came to rest on the ground inverted. Examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the airplane fuselage and empennage. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.