Red Oak Hill Farm Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Epping, New Hampshire 03042
Sunday, October 12, 2008 12:11 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot of a Piper J3C-50 stated that after completing a preflight inspection, during startup of the airplane, he noticed that the engine was running rough. He made an attempt to clear up the rough-running engine by conducting high-speed taxis. He then decided to fly it in the traffic pattern as a safety check. During takeoff, at an altitude of 50 feet above the runway, the engine stopped producing power. The pilot turned the airplane in an attempt to return to the private landing strip and stalled into terrain. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed dirt and debris in the fuel lines. Further examination of maintenance records revealed that the airplane's most recent annual inspection was completed about 5 years prior to the accident. Additionally, the airplane was operating on automobile gasoline, and there was no supplemental type certificate issued by the FAA for the accident airplane's use of automobile gasoline.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's improper preflight inspection and his decision to fly an unairworthy airplane.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/12/2008
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1211
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Epping
Event State NEW HAMPSHIRE
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 03042
Event Date Year 2008
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 432601N
Event Location Longitude 0713204W
Event Location Airport Red Oak Hill Farm
Event Location Nearest Airport ID NONE
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1155 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 180
Weather Observation Facility ID PSM
Elevation of weather observation facility 100
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 13
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
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) 17
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.5
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 24792
NTSB Notification Source FAA New England ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 17 2008 1:46PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N23267
NTSB Number ERA09CA014
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 J3C-50
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 3033
Certified Max Gross Weight 1220
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 Nov 26 2003 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 4724.6
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name Phyllis Harvey
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Epping
Aircraft Owner State NH
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 03042
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Phyllis Harvey
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Epping
Operator State NH
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 03042
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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 NONE
Departure City Epping
Departure State NH
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1211
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code NONE
Destination City Epping
Destination State NH
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 17 2008 1:47PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --