Piper J3C-65 accident near Greenville, SC
On May 29, 1995, a Piper J3C-65 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Greenville, SC. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- May 29, 1995
- Place
- Greenville, SC
- Aircraft
- Piper J3C-65 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 1 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 34.770°N, 82.379°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001207X03406
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On May 29, 1995, at 1207 eastern daylight time, a Piper J3C-65, N31328, collided with terrain following an in flight loss of control at Donaldson Center, in Greenville, South Carolina. The commercial pilot/certificated flight instructor was fatally injured, and a pilot-rated passenger had minor injuries. The aircraft was operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 by Donaldson Air Services, Inc. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time, and no flight plan was filed for the local, personal flight. The flight originated in Greenville about 1125 on the same day. The passenger, who was in the rear seat, reported that he had just completed two touch and go landings. The front seat pilot assumed the controls after the second landing. The front seat pilot initiated a steep, left hand turn. About 100 to 200 feet above ground level, the aircraft stalled. The aircraft collided with the ground in a right wing low, nose low attitude. The aircraft caught fire, and the rear seat pilot assisted the front seat pilot from the burning wreckage. PERSONNEL INFORMATION Information on the pilot-in-command, James W. Keith, is included in this report at the section titled "First Pilot Information." Information on the pilot rated passenger, Thomas E. Nix, is included in Supplement E, attached to this report. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION Information on the aircraft is included in this report at the section titled "Aircraft Information." Included in the aircraft maintenance records was an FAA Form 337, Major Repair and Alteration Form, which approved the installation of an a
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain flying speed. A factor was his failure to reposition the elevator trim.
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Browse: South Carolina · Piper aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
