What happened
On April 8, 2009, a Piper Cub J3C-65, registration N70889, was performing maneuvers at Texel Airport (EHTX) after arriving from Hilversum. The pilot, the sole occupant of the aircraft, had completed several touch-and-go landings on runway 22. During the flight, the pilot executed a circuit involving a crosswind leg and a downwind leg. While transitioning into the final approach leg, the aircraft was pushed toward the outside of the turn by significant wind conditions. In an attempt to correct the flight path and realign with the runway, the pilot induced a stall, causing the aircraft to crash northwest of the runway threshold. The pilot sustained serious injuries, and the aircraft was unrecoverably damaged.
The investigation
The investigation examined the aircraft's flight path, the environmental conditions, and the mechanical state of the plane. The aircraft, which had been recently restored, was found to be in good maintenance condition. Investigators noted that the pilot was flying at an altitude of approximately 400 feet, which was lower than the standard 1,000 feet AGL prescribed in the aeronautical information publication.
Analysis of the wreckage showed damage consistent with a heavy roll to the left and a low nose attitude upon impact. The left landing gear was bent under the cockpit, suggesting a lateral sliding motion during the crash. The investigation also focused on the pilot's use of flight controls during the turn, specifically the use of the rudder to correct the aircraft's position relative to the runway centerline.