Runway excursion Accident Piper J3C-65 N3225N, Saturday 17 March 2012

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Date:	Saturday 17 March 2012
Time:	14:00 LT
Type:	Piper J3C-65
Owner/operator:
Registration:	N3225N
MSN:	22417
Total airframe hrs:	1565 hours
Engine model:	Continental A65-8
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	Douglas Municipal Airport, GA (KDQH) - United States of America
Phase:	Landing
Nature:	Private
Departure airport:	Waycross-Ware County Airport, GA (AYS/KAYS)
Destination airport:	Douglas Municipal Airport, GA (KDQH)
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
While en route to his destination airport, the pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane observed adverse weather developing and diverted to a nearby airport. The pilot stated that the landing approach was normal, but after landing, a wind gust forced the airplane to depart the runway, where the left wing contacted a runway distance remaining sign, substantially damaging the wing spar. Postaccident examination revealed no preimpact malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. A review of weather data for the accident airport revealed that the wind speed did not exceed 6 knots around the time of the accident. The pilot reported that he had accrued only 10.5 hours of flight experience in the accident airplane.

Probable Cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing, which resulted in a runway excursion. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of experience in the tailwheel-equipped airplane.

Accident investigation: