Event NYC97LA052

Factual narrative

On February 2, 1997, about 1400 eastern standard time, a Piper J3C-65, N30598, was substantially damaged when it ground looped and collided with airport markings and runway lights during the landing roll on runway 21R at the Cincinnati Municipal-Lunken Field (LUK), Cincinnati, Ohio. The certificated flight instructor (CFI) and certificated private pilot were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight that departed Cincinnati. There was no flight plan for the instructional flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In the NTSB form 6120.1/2 submitted by the private pilot, he stated the following: "Had to take a check ride, with CFI. . .for insurance purpose, in order to act as PIC [pilot in command] of J-3 Cub [N30598] (need a sign off) we are in partnership on." "On first touch and go, lost control, plane went sharply to the right when tailwheel touched down. Then applied left rudder [and the airplane] went sharply left hitting runway light and runway marker. [The flight instructor] regained control, and I taxied back to hangar." In the NTSB form 6120.1/2 submitted by the CFI, he reported that this was a recreational flight and that he was a passenger. He further reported that the private pilot was acting as the pilot in command. According to the LUK air traffic control tower communication transcript, when a pilot of the accident airplane radioed for clearance to taxi, there was also a request to practice touch and go landings. In a statement submitted by another club member for the accident airplane, he stated that he did not have a copy of the "operating agreement and by-laws" for the accident airplane; however, he did have a copy for another club airplane which stated: "Section 3: CHECK OUT No member may act as pilot in command or second in command unless he has received a satisfactory checkout by an LLC [Limited Liability Company] CFII." The statement included an excerpt from Article 4.2 of the operating agreement and by-laws that stated: "Presently [the accident CFI] is the only CFII member. He, or any future CFII member who takes his place, shall provide up to 2 free hours of dual instruction. . ." The other club member also stated that according to the accident CFI, the operating agreement and by-laws had the same layout for all the different airplanes flown by a LLC member. Both pilot's submitted a copy of the operating agreement and by-laws for the accident airplane. The CFI's copy did not include the check out section, nor was the original copy provided. The wreckage was examined by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector. During the examination, there was no evidence of mechanical malfunctions with the airplane, nor did either pilot report any. The flight instructor and certificated private pilot student were practicing touch-and-go landings as part of a rental check out for the private flying club. The student stated that 'on first touch and go, lost control, plane went sharply to the right when tailwheel touched down. Then applied left rudder [and the airplane] went sharply left hitting runway light and runway marker. [The flight instructor] regained control, and I taxied back to hangar.' Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12