NTSB Factual Report

On December 7, 2001, at 1109 eastern standard time, a Piper J3 Cub, N40621, was substantially damaged when it collided with trees on final approach to Bowman Field (B10), Livermore Falls, Maine. The certificated private pilot/owner was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the flight that originated at the Oxford County Regional Airport (81B), Oxford, Maine. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

During a telephone interview, the pilot said he departed on the pleasure flight without obtaining a weather briefing or filing a flight plan. He stated that it was a nice day to go flying, and he picked Bowman Field because he hadn't been there in a while. The pilot said he intended to land on runway 20, a 2,350-foot long, 125-foot wide turf strip. Upon arrival at the airport, the wind sock was "straight out in a direct crosswind to runway 20." He said that there was a "pretty good" crosswind, and that he had never landed to the south before.

While on approach to land, the pilot stated that he was "slipping in," when he realized he was too low and was going to hit trees. The airplane struck a large tree, was spun 180 degrees, and came to rest on the ground.

The pilot held a private pilot certificate with an airplane single engine land rating. He reported 1,700 hours of flight experience, 1,400 hours of which were in make and model. The pilot's most recent third class medical certificate was issued September 28, 1994.

The pilot reported to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) aviation safety inspector that his most recent biennial flight review was completed in 1995.

A weather observation, taken from an airport about 15 miles from the accident site included winds from 290 degrees at 15 knots, gusting to 23 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to maintain proper altitude clearance while landing, which resulted in a collision with trees. A factor was the crosswind.