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Seat Belt Buckle Jams Rudder Pedal During Landing Approach

Williams Lake, MI, United States

On July 19, 2011, a PIPER J3C-65 operated by Pilot was involved in an aviation accident near Williams Lake, MI. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: A loss of control during approach due to the front seat passenger's belt buckle being wedged between the rear seat,the rudder pedal and floor board. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 17 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-08-03Data APIEditorial standards

After a passenger exited, a pilot departed again. During landing approach, the left rudder pedal jammed. The airplane entered a right spiral and struck a tree. Postaccident inspection found a seat belt buckle jammed between the rear rudder pedal and floor.

Incident Sequence

The pilot completed a local flight with a passenger seated in the front seat. After landing, the passenger exited the airplane. The pilot then departed on another local flight. During the approach for landing, while the airplane was turning from base leg to final, the pilot found that the left rudder pedal could not be moved. The airplane entered a right-hand spiral, struck a tree, and impacted the terrain.

Damage and Examination

The collision resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the front seat belt buckle had jammed between the rear seat rudder pedal and the floor board. The jammed buckle was located in a position that obstructed the movement of the left rudder pedal.

Contributing factors

Flight compartment equipmentRudder control systemAttain/maintain not possible
Loss of control in flight

Related events

Same aircraft family

Same operator

  • 15 Aug 2026 — PIPISTREL TAURUS ELECTRO G2.5 (Pilot)
  • 4 Aug 2026 — PIPER PA-24-250 (Pilot)
  • 27 Jul 2026 — Kitfox III (Pilot)
  • 20 Jul 2026 — PIPER J3C-65 (Pilot)
  • 17 Jul 2026 — Vans Aircraft Inc RV-8A (Pilot)

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 19 Jul 2011 PIPER J3C-65 accident near Williams Lake, MI?

After a passenger exited, a pilot departed again. During landing approach, the left rudder pedal jammed. The airplane entered a right spiral and struck a tree. Postaccident inspection found a seat belt buckle jammed between the rear rudder pedal and floor.

Were there any fatalities in the 19 Jul 2011 PIPER J3C-65 accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 19 Jul 2011 involved a PIPER J3C-65, operated by Pilot, at Williams Lake, MI.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

A loss of control during approach due to the front seat passenger's belt buckle being wedged between the rear seat,the rudder pedal and floor board.

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