Accident Overview
On June 23, 2019, about 1845 eastern daylight time, a Piper J3C airplane, registration N70803, struck a tree and terrain while on approach to Vine Grove Airport (70KY) near Vine Grove, Kentucky. The private pilot and a passenger were seriously injured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to its wings and fuselage. The flight was conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The local flight originated from 70KY about 1700.
Witness Account
A witness heard and observed an airplane flying low on the approach path to the airport before it impacted a tree and terrain. The witness subsequently called 9-1-1.
Pilot and Passenger Statements
According to the pilot's accident report, he was on final approach for runway 29. He regained consciousness in the hospital approximately three weeks later and had no recollection of the final sequence of events. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions during the flight.
The passenger, who had flown with the pilot several times previously, stated that the pilot performed a preflight inspection. The weather was cloudy upon arrival. The passenger sat in the front seat while the pilot flew from the rear seat during a local scenic flight. The passenger recalled no turbulence, unusual engine sounds, or anomalies in the aircraft's maneuverability. He did not recall sun in his eyes. During the approach, the airplane had a pitch-up attitude. He saw what he thought was vegetation and lifted his head to look out the windshield. He then saw a tree and shouted to the pilot, "tree right here." A split second later, the airplane hit the tree, flew through it, and crashed.
Aircraft Information
N70803 was a single-engine, tailwheel, fixed-gear, high-wing airplane (serial number 17821). It was powered by a 65-horsepower Continental A-65-8 F engine (serial number 53563-6-8) driving a two-bladed Sensenich propeller. The pilot held a Federal Aviation Administration private pilot certificate with single-engine land and sea ratings and a glider rating. He did not possess a current medical certificate and was operating as a sport pilot. He reported 909 total flight hours, including 230 hours in the accident airplane make and model. His last flight review was on May 6, 2019.
Weather Conditions
At 1756, the recorded weather at Godman Army Airfield near Fort Knox, Kentucky, was: wind 110° at 6 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, temperature 22°C, dew point 21°C, altimeter 29.90 inches of mercury. The temperature-dew point spread indicated conditions in the moderate carburetor icing range at cruise power or serious carburetor icing range at descent power.
Airport Information
Vine Grove Airport was a private, non-towered airport owned by Vine Grove Airport, Inc., located about one mile northeast of Vine Grove, Kentucky. It had one runway (11/29) with a turf surface, 2,700 ft long by 60 ft wide, at a surveyed elevation of 680 ft above mean sea level. The airport listed a 25 ft power line, 10 ft from the runway end, as an obstruction for runway 11 and no obstructions for runway 29.
Wreckage Examination
An FAA inspector conducted an on-scene inspection. The right-wing control cables had been cut by first responders. All flight control surfaces moved freely and appeared interconnected, but continuity with the control stick and rudder pedals could not be confirmed due to damage. The aft control stick was cut during pilot extraction. The propeller could be rotated but not fully due to ground interference. A strong fuel odor was present.
At a recovery yard, a National Transportation Safety Board investigator and an engine manufacturer representative examined the wreckage. The fuel shutoff valve appeared in the forward ON position. The throttle handle was full aft CLOSED. The carburetor heat selector was OFF, and the primer was forward locked. One propeller blade had chordwise abrasion. The carburetor separated below the mounting flange; the carburetor heat box was deformed, and the carburetor heat linkage was positioned consistent with carburetor heat being on. The fuel inlet fitting was fractured, and liquid consistent with water was found in the carburetor bowl. Spark plugs showed normal wear and coloration. The propeller flange was bent. All cylinders produced thumb compression when the propeller was rotated manually. No anomalies were detected that could not be attributed to impact damage.