Accident Overview
On June 18, 2012, at 1530 eastern daylight time, a Piper J3C-65, registration N7075H, collided with trees shortly after takeoff from McIntosh Airport (OH59) in Farmersville, Ohio. The pilot sustained serious injuries, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The flight was conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The flight was originating at the time of the accident, with an intended destination of Springfield, Ohio.
Pilot Report
The pilot departed runway 27. After liftoff, a gust of wind pushed the airplane to the right side of the runway. The pilot was able to level the airplane and continued on a heading 45 degrees from the runway heading. Once out of ground effect, the airplane “felt underpowered.” He checked the engine controls and found everything normal except the tachometer indicated 2,050 rpm. The pilot considered making a 180-degree turn but decided against it due to the lack of altitude and the wind condition. As he continued straight ahead, he saw a line of trees that he could not clear. He then made an abrupt turn toward a more heavily wooded area, choosing to contact the tree tops in a large wooded area rather than a single tree. The pilot pulled back on the control stick as the airplane encountered the tops of the trees, impacting them and descending to the terrain. The pilot stated that had he maintained the runway heading, he might have been able to land back on the runway.
Postaccident Inspection
A postaccident inspection of the aircraft and engine by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors found no mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have resulted in the degraded engine power reported by the pilot.
Weather Conditions
The closest weather reporting facility to the accident site was Middletown Regional Airport (MWO), Middletown, Ohio, approximately 12 miles south-southeast. At 1535, conditions were: wind from 230 degrees at 15 knots gusting to 20 knots; 10 miles visibility; clear skies; temperature 31°C; dewpoint 21°C; altimeter 29.94 inHg. FAA guidance noted a possibility of serious carburetor icing at glide power under those conditions. The accident airport elevation was 914 feet. Based on the recorded weather data, the corresponding density altitude was about 3,265 feet.