Piper J3-C65 accident near Hollywood, Florida, January 29, 2008
On January 29, 2008 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Piper J3-C65, registered N2143M, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Hollywood, Florida (North Perry airport). It was a banner-towing flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing. Contributing was the gusty crosswind condition.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 29, 2008 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Hollywood, Florida · North Perry · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper J3-C65 · all J3-C65s on the register
- Registration
- N2143M · registry record · serial 20928
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Banner-towing flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the Piper J3C-65 had been practicing banner towing operations, and was landing on runway 9L, a 3,241-foot-long, 100-foot-wide,asphalt runway. After a normal touchdown, the tail-wheel airplane yawed into the wind, and veered off the side of the runway. It then struck a sign and sustained damage to the propeller, landing gear and fuselage. The pilot stated he did not experience any mechanical malfunctions with the airplane. He reported 300 hours of total flight experience, which included 25 hours in the same make and model as the accident airplane. Winds reported at the airport, about 30 minutes prior to the accident, were from 160 degrees at 11 knots, gusting to 17 knots.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Not specified
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Not specified
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Sign/marker › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 300 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 80 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 200 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HWO Hollywood FL
- Destination: HWO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9L, 3,241 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 11 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from HWO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N2143M the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.