Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board
The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.
Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Greensboro, North Carolina
Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board:
Location: Bald Head Island, North Carolina
Accident Number: ERA22LA184
Date and Time: April 10, 2022, 18:05 Local
Registration: N4693S
Aircraft: Piper J3C-65
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Nose over/nose down
Injuries: 2 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal
Analysis
The pilot stated that he was landing on a beach. During the landing roll, the airplane’s main landing gear “dug in the soft sand” and the airplane flipped over, which resulted in substantial damage to the rudder, fuselage and longerons. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical deficiencies that would have precluded normal operation.
Probable Cause and Findings
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot’s failure to maintain control during landing on a soft surface.
Findings
Personnel issues Aircraft control - Pilot
Aircraft Pitch control - Not attained/maintained
Environmental issues Soft surface - Contributed to outcome
Factual Information
History of Flight
Landing-landing roll Nose over/nose down (Defining event)
Pilot Information
Certificate: Commercial
Age: 63,Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land; Single-engine sea
Seat Occupied: Rear
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: Lap only
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed:
Medical Certification: None
Last FAA Medical Exam:
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time: 11800 hours (Total, all aircraft), 700 hours (Total, this make and model), 52 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 17 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 6 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Piper
Registration: N4693S
Model/Series: J3C-65
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1946
Amateur Built:
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 18373
Landing Gear Type: Tailwheel
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: June 1, 2021 Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 1320 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 3489 Hrs as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: Continental
ELT: Installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: C-90-12
Registered Owner: Rated Power: 90
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual (VMC)
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KSUT, 25 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 5 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 18:15 Local Direction from Accident Site: 321°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear Visibility 10 miles
Lowest Ceiling: None Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 8 knots / 15 knots
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: None / None
Wind Direction: 310°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: N/A / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 30.05 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 19°C / -2°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: N. Myrtle Beach, SC (CRE)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Wilmington, NC (ILM)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 17:15 Local
Type of Airspace: Class E
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries:
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 None
Latitude, Longitude: 33.85952,-78.005979(est)
Location: Bald Head Island, North Carolina
Accident Number: ERA22LA184
Date and Time: April 10, 2022, 18:05 Local
Registration: N4693S
Aircraft: Piper J3C-65
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Piper
Registration: N4693S
Model/Series: J3C-65
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built:
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Operator Designator Code:
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: VMC
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KSUT,25 ft msl
Observation Time: 18:15 Local
Distance from Accident Site: 5 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 19°C /-2°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 8 knots / 15 knots, 310°
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility: 10 miles
Altimeter Setting: 30.05 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed:
Departure Point:
Destination:
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries:
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries:
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 None
Latitude, Longitude: 33.85952,-78.005979 (est)
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Greensboro, North Carolina
April 10, 2022: Aircraft landed on a sandbar and flipped over.
Date: 10-APR-22
Time: 22:05:00Z
Regis#: N4693S
Aircraft Make: PIPER
Aircraft Model: J3C
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: UNKNOWN
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: LANDING (LDG)
Operation: 91
City: BALD HEAD ISLAND
State: NORTH CAROLINA
BALD HEAD ISLAND, North Carolina (WECT) - Two small planes were practicing landings near the shore of Bald Head Island when one flipped over just after 6 p.m. Sunday evening.
A spokesperson with Oak Island Water Rescue says one person was taken to the U.S. Coast Guard station to be evaluated for minor injuries.
The pilot told officials that he has landed there before, but Bald Head Island Public Safety said it is not permitted.
Crews are working now to flip the plane over to clear the scene.
The second plane was able to land safely. No other injuries were reported.
Oak Island Water Rescue -
Just after 6:00 pm this evening, the OIWR hovercraft was requested for mutual aid response to assist Bald Head Island Department of Public Safety with a plane overturned on Jay Bird Shoals.
Due to the seriousness of the call and the challenging location, OIWR leadership chose to have all three of our vessels respond to nearby launch locations.
After careful consideration, we launched our rigid hull inflatable boat. For this mission, Boat 4490 was the best tool for the task. Boat 4491 (surf launch) and Boat 4493 (hovercraft) were fully staffed and standing by for rapid response if needed.
OIWR Boat 4490 provided first aid to one of the airplane occupants and transported the injured individual to Coast Guard Station Oak Island for medical treatment by a Southport FD ambulance.
Once again, the OIWR drone provided our decision makers with valuable information and visual perspective of the site of the crash. The scene was turned over to the USCG and TowBoat US.
Thankfully our mission was completed before nightfall. Had they been needed, we would have relied on our new FLIR scope and night vision goggles.
Bald Head Island Public Safety responded with their Rescue Watercraft (JetSki with sled) and their rigid hull inflatable boat. USCG Station Oak Island responded with their 29’ Small Response Boat. Commercial salvage company TowBoat US was also on-scene.
We are thankful that we serve alongside such excellent emergency response organizations. This close knit community of rescue agencies regularly provide mutual aid response to each other as the need exists.
Today’s response shows how effective mutual aid can be when we all work together.
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Washington
October 06, 2019: Aircraft on landing the wind picked up the tail and pushed the nose to the ground.
Date: 06-OCT-19
Time: 19:45:00Z
Regis#: N4693S
Aircraft Make: PIPER
Aircraft Model: J3C
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: MINOR
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: LANDING (LDG)
Operation: 91
City: WARRENTON
State: VIRGINIA
October 06, 2019: Aircraft on landing the wind picked up the tail and pushed the nose to the ground.
Date: 06-OCT-19
Time: 19:45:00Z
Regis#: N4693S
Aircraft Make: PIPER
Aircraft Model: J3C
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: MINOR
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: LANDING (LDG)
Operation: 91
City: WARRENTON
State: VIRGINIA
The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.
Additional Participating Entity:
Location: Bald Head Island, North Carolina
Accident Number: ERA22LA184
Date and Time: April 10, 2022, 18:05 Local
Registration: N4693S
Aircraft: Piper J3C-65
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Piper
Registration: N4693S
Model/Series: J3C-65
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built:
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Operator Designator Code:
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: VMC
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KSUT,25 ft msl
Observation Time: 18:15 Local
Distance from Accident Site: 5 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 19°C /-2°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 8 knots / 15 knots, 310°
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility: 10 miles
Altimeter Setting: 30.05 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed:
Departure Point:
Destination:
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries:
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries:
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 None
Latitude, Longitude: 33.85952,-78.005979 (est)
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Greensboro, North Carolina
April 10, 2022: Aircraft landed on a sandbar and flipped over.
Date: 10-APR-22
Time: 22:05:00Z
Regis#: N4693S
Aircraft Make: PIPER
Aircraft Model: J3C
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: UNKNOWN
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: LANDING (LDG)
Operation: 91
City: BALD HEAD ISLAND
State: NORTH CAROLINA
BALD HEAD ISLAND, North Carolina (WECT) - Two small planes were practicing landings near the shore of Bald Head Island when one flipped over just after 6 p.m. Sunday evening.
A spokesperson with Oak Island Water Rescue says one person was taken to the U.S. Coast Guard station to be evaluated for minor injuries.
The pilot told officials that he has landed there before, but Bald Head Island Public Safety said it is not permitted.
Crews are working now to flip the plane over to clear the scene.
The second plane was able to land safely. No other injuries were reported.
Oak Island Water Rescue -
Just after 6:00 pm this evening, the OIWR hovercraft was requested for mutual aid response to assist Bald Head Island Department of Public Safety with a plane overturned on Jay Bird Shoals.
Due to the seriousness of the call and the challenging location, OIWR leadership chose to have all three of our vessels respond to nearby launch locations.
After careful consideration, we launched our rigid hull inflatable boat. For this mission, Boat 4490 was the best tool for the task. Boat 4491 (surf launch) and Boat 4493 (hovercraft) were fully staffed and standing by for rapid response if needed.
OIWR Boat 4490 provided first aid to one of the airplane occupants and transported the injured individual to Coast Guard Station Oak Island for medical treatment by a Southport FD ambulance.
Once again, the OIWR drone provided our decision makers with valuable information and visual perspective of the site of the crash. The scene was turned over to the USCG and TowBoat US.
Thankfully our mission was completed before nightfall. Had they been needed, we would have relied on our new FLIR scope and night vision goggles.
Bald Head Island Public Safety responded with their Rescue Watercraft (JetSki with sled) and their rigid hull inflatable boat. USCG Station Oak Island responded with their 29’ Small Response Boat. Commercial salvage company TowBoat US was also on-scene.
We are thankful that we serve alongside such excellent emergency response organizations. This close knit community of rescue agencies regularly provide mutual aid response to each other as the need exists.
Today’s response shows how effective mutual aid can be when we all work together.
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Washington
October 06, 2019: Aircraft on landing the wind picked up the tail and pushed the nose to the ground.
Date: 06-OCT-19
Time: 19:45:00Z
Regis#: N4693S
Aircraft Make: PIPER
Aircraft Model: J3C
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: MINOR
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: LANDING (LDG)
Operation: 91
City: WARRENTON
State: VIRGINIA
October 06, 2019: Aircraft on landing the wind picked up the tail and pushed the nose to the ground.
Date: 06-OCT-19
Time: 19:45:00Z
Regis#: N4693S
Aircraft Make: PIPER
Aircraft Model: J3C
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: MINOR
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: LANDING (LDG)
Operation: 91
City: WARRENTON
State: VIRGINIA
The wind can do strange things!
ReplyDeleteHappened again.... only better
ReplyDeletehttps://www.wect.com/2022/04/11/plane-flipped-over-while-practicing-landings-near-bald-head-island/