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ERA10CA339

2010-06-28 · Thomaston, Georgia, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport OPN

Current FAA registration · N41242

Make / Model
PIPER J3C-65
Year of manufacture
1941 · 69 years old at event
Engine
CONT MOTOR A&C65 SERIES (65 hp)
Seats / Engines
2 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19560308
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A4DE8D

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing.

Factual narrative

According to the pilot, after touching down on runway 30 in the tailwheel-equipped airplane, he “felt a gust of wind hit the airplane from the left, which pushed the tail around to the right.” The pilot also stated that he was not able to correct for the situation quickly enough, and the airplane departed the left side of the runway. The left main wheel hit a runway light, turning the airplane until its right wing impacted a runway distance remaining sign. The airplane incurred substantial damage to its right wing. An aviation routine weather report for the airport, about the time of the accident, included winds from 240 degrees true at 10 knots, with clear skies and unrestricted visibility. According to the pilot, after touching down on runway 30 in the tailwheel-equipped airplane, he “felt a gust of wind hit the airplane from the left, which pushed the tail around to the right.” The pilot also stated that he was not able to correct for the situation quickly enough, and the airplane departed the left side of the runway. The left main wheel hit a runway light, turning the airplane until its right wing impacted a runway distance remaining sign. The airplane incurred substantial damage to its right wing. An aviation routine weather report for the airport, about the time of the accident, included winds from 240 degrees true at 10 knots, with clear skies and unrestricted visibility. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained - C

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2010_ERA10CA339.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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