On August 3, 2000, a Piper J3C-65 (registration N2143M) was involved in an aviation accident near New Smyrna Bch., FL. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing rollout, which resulted in a ground loop and collision with a runway light. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot with limited experience in the specific aircraft type lost directional control during landing rollout, striking a runway light and executing a ground loop.
What happened
According to testimony provided by an FAA inspector who witnessed the incident, the pilot lost directional control while conducting the landing rollout on runway 18. The event resulted in the aircraft striking a runway light fixture and subsequently entering a ground loop. At the time of the accident, the wind was blowing from the east with an estimated speed of 10 knots.
The investigation
During the review of the incident, the pilot provided details regarding his flight experience. He reported possessing a total of 219.3 flight hours across all aircraft types. However, his specific experience in this make and model was limited to only 7.7 total flight hours. This low level of type-specific currency likely contributed to the difficulty in maintaining directional control during the critical landing phase.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing rollout, which resulted in a ground loop and collision with a runway light.
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