Piper J3C N38365

Summary

On 16 September 2017 at about 20:49 local time, a Piper J3C registered N38365 was involved in an accident near Hanover Township, Pennsylvania, 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

16 September 2017 at 20:49

Classification

Accident

Location

Hanover Township, Pennsylvania, United States

Coordinates

40.5236, -80.4064

Aircraft

Piper J3C

Registration

N38365

Category

Airplane

Year built

1941

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

New Cumberland → New Cumberland

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA17LA328

2 people had minor injuries.

The pilot's failure to maintain roll control while maneuvering, which resulted in a collision with trees and terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private pilot was conducting a local, personal flight. He reported that, about 1,000 ft above ground level and as he began turning the airplane left, it rolled faster than he expected and then "rolled over" into an inverted attitude. The pilot regained control of the airplane, and when the airplane was straight and level, he saw treetops. He tried to pull up, but the airplane impacted trees and then terrain, which resulted in substantial damage to the airframe.   The pilot stated, and a postaccident examination of the airplane confirmed, that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures of the flight controls that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.