Piper J3C-65 accident near Hartford, WI
On July 31, 2021, a Piper J3C-65 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Hartford, WI. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- July 31, 2021
- Place
- Hartford, WI
- Aircraft
- Piper J3C-65 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 1 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 43.351°N, 88.400°W
- NTSB ID
- 20210731103599
Official records · CEN21FA345
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
On July 31, 2021, about 1130 central daylight time, a Piper J3C-65 airplane, N42522, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Hartford, Wisconsin. The flight instructor was fatally injured and the pilot receiving instruction was seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The pilot receiving instruction reported that they were practicing takeoffs and landings from runway 27 at the Hartford Municipal Airport (HXF) and had performed about 10 before the accident occurred. On the accident takeoff, when the airplane reached 400-500 ft agl, the instructor said, “engine failure, turn around for 09”. The instructor did not state if it was an actual or simulated engine failure. Both pilots were on the controls at this time and started a turn for runway 9 when the airplane entered a “graveyard spin.” He remembered about 1 to 2 seconds of the spin and had no further recollection of the accident. The airplane impacted a bean field about 1,100 ft west of the departure end of runway 27. Based on airframe damage signatures, the airplane impacted in a left-wing low, nose low attitude, with the airplane coming to rest about 35 ft west of the initial impact point. A postaccident examination of the airplane confirmed flight control system continuity from the cockpit controls to all control surfaces. There were no separations in any of the flight control cables. The left-wing spars were broken at the wing root, but the remainder of the wing was predominately intact. Both left lift struts were ben
Probable cause
The flight crew’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack during a simulated engine failure during initial climb after takeoff, which led to an aerodynamic stall/spin and loss of control. Contributing to the severity of the occupants’ injuries was the airplane’s lack of shoulder harnesses.
More accidents in WI
- Douglas DC-9-14, Sep 6, 1985
- Beech 200, Nov 16, 1987
- Piper PA-28-140, Feb 3, 1991
- Piper PA-32R-300, Aug 19, 1990
- Cessna 421C, Jul 1, 2017
Browse: Wisconsin · 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.
