Piper J3C N30494

Summary

On 17 November 2023 at about 19:10 local time, a Piper J3C registered N30494 was involved in an accident near Buffalo, Minnesota, 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

17 November 2023 at 19:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Buffalo, Minnesota, United States

Nearest airport

Buffalo Muni (CFE)

Coordinates

45.1597, -93.8433

Aircraft

Piper J3C

Registration

N30494

Category

Airplane

Year built

1940

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Buffalo → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN24LA041

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll with a quartering headwind.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, while practicing touch-and-go landings, the tailwheel-equipped airplane touched down and immediately veered right. The pilot attempted to correct with opposite rudder and brake; however, the airplane exited the right side of the runway. During the excursion the airplane collided with an airport sign, and the right wing struck the ground, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing and its lift strut. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident, the pilot was landing the airplane on runway 18 with wind from 210° at 12 knots.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.