Tavernaero Park Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Plantation Key, Florida 33036
Friday, April 13, 2012 16:15 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot stated that during the initial climb, the airplane lost lift and began to descend due to turbulence. The pilot turned back to the runway to land, but the airplane subsequently impacted trees, which resulted in substantial damage to the wing spars and fuselage. A postaccident examination did not reveal any mechanical failures or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate control of the airplane and ensure clearance from trees.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/13/2012
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1615
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Plantation Key
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 33036
Event Date Year 2012
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 250019N
Event Location Longitude 0803135W
Event Location Airport Tavernaero Park Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID FA81
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 --
Airport Elevation 10
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1608 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 360
Weather Observation Facility ID HST
Elevation of weather observation facility 6
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 29
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 6000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4600
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 17
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 160
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.04
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 30481
NTSB Notification Source USCG
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 7 2012 11:54AM
User who most recently changed record gots
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N75487
NTSB Number ERA12CA281
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-65
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 17648
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 Mar 1 2012 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 4929
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name TAVERN CUB CLUB LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address C/O CORP AMERICA
Aircraft Owner City DOVER
Aircraft Owner State DE
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 19901
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name TAVERN CUB CLUB LLC
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address C/O CORP AMERICA
Operator City DOVER
Operator State DE
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 19901
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 FA81
Departure City Plantation Key
Departure State FL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code FA81
Destination City Plantation Key
Destination State FL
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 7 2012 11:55AM
User who most recently changed record gots
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 --