Piper J3F-65 accident near Parker, AZ
On March 30, 2002, a Piper J3F-65 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Parker, AZ. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- March 30, 2002
- Place
- Parker, AZ
- Aircraft
- Piper J3F-65 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 34.151°N, 114.271°W
- NTSB ID
- 20020403X00452
Official records · LAX02FA120
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
On March 30, 2002, at 1600 mountain standard time, a Piper J3F-65, N40770, failed to gain altitude and dragged a wing in the takeoff initial climb from Avi Suquilla Airport (P20), Parker, Arizona. The airplane collided with the ground and was destroyed in a ground fire about 300 yards north of the departure end of runway 1. The airplane was owned and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot/owner, who held airline transport pilot (ATP) and certified flight instructor (CFI) certificates, sustained fatal injuries; the student incurred serious injuries. The student later succumbed to her injuries on May 20, 2002. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local area instructional flight that was originating at the time of the accident. Five airport workers in the airport office observed the sequence of events. They reported that just after liftoff, the airplane assumed a nose high stall attitude and began "wallowing" with the wings rocking back and forth. The airplane never attained more than 70 feet off the ground as it flew past the departure end of runway 1, and, while still "wallowing," began a right crosswind turn. The right wingtip contacted the ground and the airplane cartwheeled to a stop and then caught fire. They immediately responded to the crash site and reported the student continually repeated, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean it." The witnesses reported that earlier in the day they had stopped by the CFI's hangar and spoke briefly with him and the student. The student was introduced as the CFI's daughter, and was receiving instruc
Probable cause
The failure of the student to attain and maintain an adequate airspeed following liftoff, which resulted in a stall/mush condition. Also causal was the certified flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the flight and failure to take timely remedial actions. .
More accidents in AZ
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Browse: Arizona · 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.
