NTSB GAA19CA575 — 2019-09-26 · Lander, Wyoming, United States

Current FAA registration · N33463

Make / Model: PIPER J3C-65
Engine: CONT MOTOR A&C75 SERIES (75 hp)
Seats / Engines: 2 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date: 19550917
ADS-B equipped: Yes — Mode-S A3A7F1

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

N33463 Piper J3C Minor

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's failure to maintain lateral control during takeoff with a quartering tailwind, which resulted in the right wing striking the ground, a runway excursion, impact with a fence, and a subsequent noseover.

Factual narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that, during takeoff in ground effect, the airplane encountered a gust of wind from the left and the right wing struck the ground. The airplane drifted right, the main landing gear impacted a fence parallel to the runway, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, empennage and both wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airport's automated weather observation station reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 280° at 18 knots, gusting to 28 knots. The airplane was departing from runway 04. The pilot reported that, during takeoff in ground effect, the airplane encountered a wind gust from the left, and the right wing struck the ground. The airplane drifted right, the main landing gear impacted a fence parallel to the runway, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, empennage, and both wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Lateral/bank control-Not attained/maintained - C
C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
C Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Fence/fence post-Effect on operation - C
C Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Tailwind-Effect on operation - C
C Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Crosswind-Effect on operation - C

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2019_GAA19CA575.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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Related research

Matched on aircraft type or causal vocabulary (runway excursion). All research papers