No Identifier Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Selma, North Carolina 27576
Thursday, May 9, 2013 19:24 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

According to the instructor pilot, he was at the airplane controls while he demonstrated a touch and go landing with the student pilot. He stated that the airplane collided with unmarked power lines during an attempt to land on an undesignated grass strip. The airplane came to rest on the ground inverted. Examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the airplane fuselage and empennage. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The instructor pilot’s inadequate visual lookout, which resulted in a collision with power lines and then the ground.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/9/2013
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1924
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Selma
Event State NORTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 27576
Event Date Year 2013
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 353403N
Event Location Longitude 0781700W
Event Location Airport No Identifier
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 210
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1915 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 20
Weather Observation Facility ID JNX
Elevation of weather observation facility 167
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 6
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Dusk
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) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 13
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 210
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 3
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 SA 09/05/2013 23:35- > METAR KJNX 092335Z AUTO 2
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 31564
NTSB Notification Source FAA Southern CROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 15 2013 3:42PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N21609
NTSB Number ERA13CA234
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 2460
Certified Max Gross Weight 1100
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats 2
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 May 1 2012 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 20
Airframe Hours 2003
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name ESSEY PHILLIP M JR
Aircraft Owner Street Address 618 S KING ST
Aircraft Owner City LAURINBURG
Aircraft Owner State NC
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 28352-4412
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name Linwood Oakley
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Kenly
Operator State NC
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 28352
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code JNX
Departure City Smithfield
Departure State NC
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1845
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code JNX
Destination City Smithfield
Destination State NC
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 15 2013 3:40PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 27
Runway Length 2000
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --