On October 26, 1991, a Piper J3C-65 (registration N70548) operated by Richard J. Bouey was involved in an aviation accident near Manchester, VT. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE AIRCRAFT PREFLIGHT. A FACTOR WAS THE PILOT'S LACK OF FLIGHT EXPERIENCE. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot noticed engine smoke, made a precautionary landing, and tightened a loose oil cap. After takeoff, smoke reappeared, leading to a forced landing in a field and a collision with trees.
Incident Sequence
According to a statement from the pilot, he was flying at cruise altitude when smoke began emanating from the engine. He performed a precautionary landing and discovered that the oil cap was loose. The pilot reported that he tightened the cap and checked the oil level. Shortly after taking off again, at approximately 200 feet above ground level, the engine began to smoke once more. The pilot attempted a forced landing in a field but was too low to reach the intended landing site, resulting in a collision with trees during the descent.
Post-Accident Examination
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) personnel examined the wreckage and found that the oil cap was open. They reinstalled the cap and determined that there were no discrepancies with the seal; the cap had a positive lock when closed. At the time of the accident, the pilot had accumulated a total of 85 flight hours.
A SkyWalk Join't 3 paraglider crashed into the ground near Las Vizcachas, Chile, on September 1, 2024. The pilot and passenger sustained serious spinal…
PARAPENTE (ULTRALIVIANO NO MOTORIZADO)·2024-09-01DGAC Chile
A Cessna 172N struck electrical cables while on final approach to land at Aucó Aerodrome in Chile. The pilot was uninjured, but the aircraft sustained damage…
A Bombardier DHC-8-402 suffered a tail strike during landing at Puerto Williams on September 9, 2024. All 76 occupants were unharmed, but the aircraft…
A MYD JS-MD 3 glider veered off the runway and struck a wall at Vitacura Aerodrome on January 6, 2025. The pilot was uninjured, but the aircraft sustained…
A recreational paraglider flight in Puchuncaví, Chile, ended with the pilot sustaining serious injuries after a rapid descent and impact with a hillside on…
PARAPENTE (ULTRALIVIANO NO MOTORIZADO)·2025-03-29DGAC Chile
A Tecnam P2006T landed on its belly at an aerodrome in Poland after the crew failed to confirm landing gear deployment. The incident resulted in no injuries…