Aviation Accident Summary CHI98LA071

VALLEY CENTER, KS, USA

Aircraft #1

N32737

Piper J-3

Analysis

The pilot reported that shortly after takeoff, he felt and heard what he thought was the limbs of nearby trees brushing the right wingtip. He reported, 'I now know the shudder of a near stall caused the door window at my right to rattle. My reflex action was a left turn, the sure way to start a spin from a pre-stall attitude.' The airplane rotated to the right and cart-wheeled off the right wingtip and hit trees. The airplane came to rest in an inverted position with the tail resting vertically in the trees. The pilot reported that the accident could have been prevented by, 'decreasing the climb angle sooner after liftoff.'

Factual Information

On December 17, 1997, at 1620 central standard time, a Piper J-3, N32737, sustained substantial damage when it impacted the terrain during takeoff climb. The airplane rolled to the right and the right wing impacted the ground. The airplane flipped inverted and came to rest on its back. The private pilot received minor injuries. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight had departed a private grass airstrip and was on a local flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot reported that shortly after takeoff he felt and heard what he thought was the limbs of nearby trees brushing the right wingtip. The pilot reported, "I now know the shudder of a near stall caused the door window at my right to rattle. My reflex action was a left turn, the sure way to start a spin from a pre-stall attitude." The pilot reported that the airplane rotated to the right and cart-wheeled off the right wingtip when it hit the trees. The airplane came to rest in an inverted position with the tail resting vertically in the trees. The pilot reported that the accident could have been prevented by, "decreasing the climb angle sooner after liftoff."

Probable Cause and Findings

the pilot's excessive pull up after lift-off and failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the initial climb, which resulted in a stall and collision with wooded terrain.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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