NTSB Factual Report

On August 11, 2001, about 1745 eastern daylight time, a Piper J3C-65, N6153H, was substantially damaged during takeoff from Royalton Airport (9G5), Gasport, New York. The certificated commercial pilot was not injured, and the passenger suffered minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

The pilot stated that the windsock indicated winds from the west at 5 to 10 knots. He departed on runway 27, a 1,650-foot long, 50-foot wide, grass runway. The pilot further stated, "During the initial climb the aircraft encountered light turbulence while climbing above the height of the tree line next to the runway. The aircraft did not seem to climb as it normally would have. I avoided the first hangar at the end of the runway by making a shallow turn to the left, but I could not avoid the second hangar. The aircraft struck the second hangar where it came to rest on the roof." The pilot added that there were no mechanical problems with the airplane.

The passenger stated that she did not recall the crash. She remembered the pilot screaming just before the impact, and then remembered trying to get out of the airplane.

The airplane came to rest on the roof of a hangar that was located about 75 to 100 left of the runway centerline, and set back from the hangar that the pilot initially avoided. The damaged hangar was approximately 12 feet high and 50 feet wide, with a flat roof that sloped rearward. The airplane was resting about 30 degrees nose down, into the roof of the hangar, and oriented to a heading of about 180 degrees. The engine and cockpit area forward of the wings had protruded through the hangar roof. The underside of the fuselage was buckled, but there was no apparent structural damage to the wings. Aside from the impact on the hangar roof, the airplane did not collide with any other structures.

A Federal Aviation Administration inspector stated that runway 27 was maintained, and the grass was recently mowed. Additionally, the airplane was within the weight and balance limitations during the takeoff.

The reported weather at an airport approximately 15 miles southwest of the accident site, at 1754, was: wind calm; visibility 10 miles; scattered clouds at 5,000 feet; temperature 81 degrees F; dew point 61 degrees F; altimeter 30.04 inches Hg.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to obtain a proper climb airspeed which resulted in an inadvertent stall and subsequent impact with a hangar.