Priebe Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Findlay, Ohio 45839
Friday, June 29, 2001 17:45 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Shortly after takeoff, the engine lost all power, and the pilot performed a forced landing to a soybean field. Examination of the wreckage revealed that when the magneto switch was in the "BOTH" position, an ohmmeter showed the connection as grounded. Further examination revealed that two ignition switch leads were chafed, and grounded against a screw. The airplane was manufactured in 1941, and the chafing appeared to have occurred over a long period of time.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Two chafed ignition switch leads, which resulted in a failure of the ignition system and subsequent total loss of engine power.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/29/2001
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1745
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Findlay
Event State OHIO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 45839
Event Date Year 2001
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport Priebe Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 7D5
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 210
Airport Elevation 795
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1756 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 180
Weather Observation Facility ID FDY
Elevation of weather observation facility 813
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 8
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 7500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 29
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 240
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.02
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 11530
NTSB Notification Source Great Lakes Comm Center
NTSB Notification Date Jun 29 2001 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2045
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Feb 20 2002 1:46PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Columbus, Ohio

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N40782
NTSB Number NYC01LA156
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model J3F-65
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 7496
Certified Max Gross Weight 1100
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 Apr 16 2001 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 10
Airframe Hours 5573
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Faar Inc.
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Findlay
Aircraft Owner State OH
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 45840
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Hal Durbin
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Findlay
Operator State OH
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 45840
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 7D5
Departure City Findlay
Departure State OH
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1745
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code 7D5
Destination City Findlay
Destination State OH
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff - initial climb
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Jan 28 2002 9:00AM
User who most recently changed record PEAR
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 21
Runway Length 2110
Runway Width 18
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --