GREENBRIAR, AR, USA
N105LM
Oakes J3 CUB
The 71 hour student pilot reported that while maneuvering his experimental homebuilt airplane, 'the aircraft entered a slow right hand, uncontrolled turn, [and] continued [in] that mode of flight until impacting the earth.' A witness reported observing the airplane's nose drop as it made a right turn. Subsequently, the airplane's right wing and nose impacted the ground. The witness further reported that the engine was running during the entire event. According to the FAA inspector, high gusty wind conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.
On April 29, 1999, approximately 1125 central daylight time, an Oakes J-3 Cub experimental homebuilt airplane, N105LM, was substantially damaged during terrain impact while maneuvering near Greenbriar, Arkansas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal cross-country flight. The aircraft was owned and operated by the pilot/builder. The student pilot, sole occupant of the aircraft, sustained minor injuries. The flight originated from Clinton, Arkansas, with a destination of Chael, a private airstrip near Wooster, Arkansas. A witness reported observing the aircraft's nose drop as it made a right turn. Subsequently, the aircraft's right wing and nose impacted the ground. The witness further reported that the engine was running during the entire event. The 71-hour student pilot reported to the FAA inspector that "the aircraft entered a slow right hand, uncontrolled turn, [and] continued [in] that mode of flight until impacting the earth." The aircraft came to rest inverted. Examination of the aircraft wreckage by the FAA inspector revealed that the engine was separated from the fuselage. The outboard section of the right wing was separated. The left and right wings were partially separated from the fuselage. The main landing gear was separated from the fuselage. According to the FAA inspector, high gusty wind conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.
The student pilot's failure to compensate for the gusty wind condition while maneuvering, which resulted in the inadvertent stall. A factor was the gusty wind condition.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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