Pilot Debrief

PIPER J-3C near Buckhead, GA — 2010-07-18

Final reportERA10CA366
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Date
2010-07-18
Location
Buckhead, GA, USA
Aircraft
PIPER J-3C
Registration
N98342
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

An in-flight encounter with a downdraft during a go-around, resulting in a collision with trees and the ground.

NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that he departed from his private airstrip on a local area flight. He observed thunderstorms approaching the area and the winds were increasing, so he returned to the airstrip for landing. On final approach, he noticed that some children had left a gate open and his miniature donkeys were crossing the runway. He added power to go around, but the airplane would not climb. The airplane encountered a downdraft and collided vertically with trees and the ground. Examination of the airframe, flight controls and engine assembly and accessories revealed no anomalies. Weather radar data indicated that the area overhead the accident site was associated with dissipating echoes, which were decreasing in area coverage and in intensity with time, and implied a dissipating rain shower that would be typical of prevailing downdraft activity.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 2 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents2

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