No fatalities

8 Jul 2009: PIPER J3C 65 — South Charleston, WV

South Charleston, WV, United States

On 8 Jul 2009, a PIPER J3C 65 was involved in an aviation accident near South Charleston, WV. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain control during the attempted go-around. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

A pilot conducting touch-and-go landings was blinded by the setting sun during landing flare, resulting in a bounced landing. During the subsequent go-around, the airplane stalled and impacted trees, causing substantial damage.

Accident Details

A pilot was performing takeoffs and landings while remaining in the airport traffic pattern. During the third attempted landing to Runway 33, the pilot reported being "blinded" by the setting sun while in the landing flare. The airplane touched down on its left main landing gear and "bounced high." The pilot then initiated a go-around, but the airplane stalled and struck trees to the side of the runway.

Aircraft Damage

The accident resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and the engine firewall. No other damage was reported.

Pilot and Mechanical Examination

Neither the pilot nor a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector, who examined the airplane after the accident, reported any aircraft malfunctions or mechanical anomalies. The aircraft appeared to have been functioning normally prior to the event.

Weather Conditions

The nearest weather reporting facility, located approximately 8 miles northeast of the accident location, reported winds from 030 degrees at 3 knots at the time of the accident. No other weather information was provided.

Summary

The pilot, blinded by the setting sun during the landing flare, experienced a bounce on landing. The subsequent go-around attempt led to a stall and collision with trees. No mechanical issues were identified.

Contributing factors

Causes

PilotIncorrect use/operation

Other contributing factors

Effect on personnel