Piper J3C-65 N98109

Summary

On 28 June 2021 at about 23:30 local time, a Piper J3C-65 registered N98109 was involved in an accident near Sterling, Alaska, 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

28 June 2021 at 23:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Sterling, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

60.7169, -150.3336

Aircraft

Piper J3C-65

Registration

N98109

Category

Airplane

Year built

1946

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Homer → Anchorage

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC21LA047

Nobody was injured.

A partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, while en route, the engine lost partial power, and he was unable to restore full power. During the subsequent off-airport landing, the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted, resulting in substantial damage to the empennage and right wing. A postaccident examination revealed no mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. According to the carburetor icing-probability chart located in the Federal Aviation Administration Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin CE-09-35, the accident flight would likely have been operating in conditions conducive to “serious icing in cruise power”; however, the pilot reported that he applied carburetor heat following the loss of power. The reason for the loss of power could not be determined based on the available information.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.