On August 21, 1996, a Piper J3C-65 (registration N23176) was involved in an aviation accident near Urbana, IL. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: the pilot's failure to maintain airspeed. A factor was the diverted attention of the pilot. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During a third passenger flight, the pilot detected an unusual engine noise while climbing. He attempted to return to the departure airport but lost control during the turn and crashed into a cornfield.
What happened
The pilot was operating the aircraft for a series of passenger flights, conducting what would be the third ride of the day. During the climb phase of this particular flight, the pilot noticed an unusual sound coming from the engine. Despite this indication, he continued to climb and informed his passenger that he intended to return to the airport.
The pilot then initiated a turn to land in the opposite direction on the runway from which he had just departed. At approximately the 180-degree point of this maneuver, the airplane departed controlled flight. The aircraft subsequently impacted terrain in a nearby cornfield.
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…