Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot receiving instruction's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. Factors in the accident were the flight instructors delayed remedial action, and crosswind.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
On March 5, 2005, about 1340 eastern standard time, a Piper J3C-65, N87955, received substantial damage when it nosed over while landing at Aeroflex-Andover Airport (12N), Andover, New Jersey. The certificated flight instructor and certificated commercial pilot receiving instruction were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The local instructional flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
According to the flight instructor, the pilot receiving tailwheel instruction was executing a landing on runway 03. After the airplane touched down, it started to drift left. "As correction control inputs were being made [both pilots were then on the controls], the left main gear struck a 2 1/2-foot snow bank, causing the aircraft to swing quickly to the left.." The right main landing gear then struck the snow bank, and the airplane nosed over.
The weather reported at the airport, at 1354, included winds from 040 degrees at 6 knots.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# IAD05LA042