Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Middlesex, North Carolina 27557
Monday, August 5, 1991 16:15 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

ON INITIAL TAKEOFF, THE J-3 PILOT INITIATED A LEFT TURN AT ABOUT 125 FEET AGL. HE THEN NOTICED THAT THE AIRSPEED HAD DECAYED TO ABOUT 40 KNOTS. THE AIRPLANE STALLED, AND THE LEFT WING COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND BEFORE A RECOVERY COULD BE MADE. THE PILOT REPORTED NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRPLANE; HE WAS MAINTAINING A STEEP, NOSE-HIGH ATTITUDE ON THE INITIAL CLIMB AND DID NOT MONITOR HIS AIRSPEED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED WHILE MANEUVERING IN A TURN ON INITIAL CLIMB OUT RESULTING IN A STALL.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/5/1991
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1615
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City MIDDLESEX
Event State NORTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 27557
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1600 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 85
Weather Observation Facility ID RWI
Elevation of weather observation facility 158
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 14
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 5000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 360
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1439
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 44307
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 10:37AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2139M
NTSB Number ATL91LA154
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model J3C
Aircraft Series Identifier J3C
Aircraft Serial Number 20926
Certified Max Gross Weight 1220
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jan 2 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name STONE,ALFRED T & STRIPLIN,B.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3002 PHILLIPS RD
Aircraft Owner City WILSON
Aircraft Owner State NC
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 27893
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name STONE,ALFRED T & STRIPLIN,B.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 3002 PHILLIPS RD
Operator City WILSON
Operator State NC
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 27893
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1615
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --