Pilot Debrief

PIPER J3C 65 near Bellingham, WA — 2014-06-03

Final reportWPR14CA223
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Date
2014-06-03
Location
Bellingham, WA, USA
Airport
WA90
Aircraft
PIPER J3C 65
Registration
N1205P
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Taxi

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing on a narrow airstrip, which resulted in a collision with trees.

NTSB narrative

The owner-pilot departed his home airport for a personal flight to another airstrip where he had previously operated many times. Since the turf runway had a significant slope and was bordered by trees on three sides, landings were conducted in the uphill direction, which was to the southeast. The narrowness of the runway, coupled with the proximity of trees to the runway edges, necessitated that pilots taxi uphill to the southeast end, in order to turn around and exit the runway at the northwest end. The pilot overflew the runway to check for deer and other obstacles, and made a left-hand circling approach for the landing to the southeast. There was a slight left crosswind during the approach, but no wind at all on the runway because of the tall trees. Touchdown at the intended landing point, which was about 150 feet beyond the approach end was normal. After landing, the pilot added power to taxi uphill to turn around. However, about 400 feet beyond the touchdown point, the airplane began to drift to the right. The pilot was unable to correct that drift before the right wingtip struck a small tree, which resulted in a sharp right turn. The airplane veered off the right side of the runway, which was a downsloped, wooded area. The airplane was stopped by a large tree, and came to rest approximately perpendicular to the runway, with the tail approximately at the runway edge. The airplane sustained substantial damage to its wings. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted taxi after initial drift began.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 4 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents4

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