Summary
On June 25, 2007, a Piper J3F-65 (N2364K) was involved in an incident near Grand Ledge, MI. All 2 people aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff resulting in a ground loop.
The airplane was substantially damaged when it ground looped during takeoff. The pilot stated that he "lost control" while attempting to correct a drift to the left during takeoff on runway 27 (3,200 feet by 100 feet, asphalt). The airplane ground looped and "went up on its nose" before coming to rest. The left main landing gear collapsed during the accident sequence. The pilot reported light and variable winds during the accident takeoff. Winds recorded at Capital City Airport, located about 6 miles east of the accident site, were from 170 degrees at 6 knots. The pilot reported no failures or malfunctions associated with the airplane prior to the accident. He noted that he "should have been more alert and reacted quicker to the drift."
This incident is documented in NTSB report CHI07CA186. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N2364K.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff resulting in a ground loop.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
The airplane was substantially damaged when it ground looped during takeoff. The pilot stated that he "lost control" while attempting to correct a drift to the left during takeoff on runway 27 (3,200 feet by 100 feet, asphalt). The airplane ground looped and "went up on its nose" before coming to rest. The left main landing gear collapsed during the accident sequence. The pilot reported light and variable winds during the accident takeoff. Winds recorded at Capital City Airport, located about 6 miles east of the accident site, were from 170 degrees at 6 knots. The pilot reported no failures or malfunctions associated with the airplane prior to the accident. He noted that he "should have been more alert and reacted quicker to the drift."
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# CHI07CA186