On December 17, 1983, a Piper J3C-65 (registration N70779) was involved in an aviation accident near North Hampton, NH. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An aircraft stalled at about 100 feet after takeoff during an instructional flight. The aircraft turned through 180 degrees and struck the ground in a nose-low and right bank attitude. The student pilot had no recollection of the flight.
Accident Sequence
The accident occurred during an instructional flight shortly after takeoff. The aircraft stalled at approximately 100 feet above ground level. According to witnesses, the aircraft then turned through 180 degrees before colliding with the ground in a nose-low and right bank attitude.
Witness Accounts
One witness reported seeing the aircraft turn through 180 degrees before it struck the ground. Another witness stated that they thought the aircraft was going to perform a loop before it turned right and dove to the ground. Both witnesses noted that the engine sound was normal throughout the sequence.
Pilot Information
The student pilot, who had his first solo flight approximately one week prior to the accident with no subsequent flights, has no recollection of the flight. The aircraft was being operated under instructional conditions at the time of the accident.