Adopted:    April 5, 1944

File No. 3597-43

REPORT OF THE CIVIL AERONAUTICS BOARD

on the

Investigation of an Accident Involving Aircraft

During a Local Instruction Flight

Henry John Peterson, Jr., as fatally injured in au accident which occurred about 4 rules northeast of Joy Airport, Fresno, Michigan, at approximately 10:30 a.m. on august 20, 1943. Peterson, a War Training Service trainee, had flown approximately 30 dual and 21 solo hours. The aircraft, a Piper J3F-50, MC 24798, owned by Detroit School of aviation, Inc., as demolished.

Peterson, flying solo from the rear seat, took off from Joy Airport about 9:50 a.m. to practice a series of maneuvers in a practice area approximately 4 miles northwest of the airport. About 35 minutes later two pilots who were playing golf observed the plane at an altitude of approximately 1500 feet. They states that they watched the pilot practice stalls, then a few minutes later saw the aircraft in a steep dive about 100 feet above the treetops. Full power was applied as the plane disappeared. behind trees and immediately thereafter the two witnesses heard it crash. The plane struck the ground nose-first at a steep angle, turned over and came to rest in an inverted position.

Investigation revealed that during flight the fir extinguisher had fallen from its bracket in the cockpit and become edged beneath the pushpull elevator control link rod slightly forward of the control stick socket in the rear cockpit, while the stick as in the forward position. As the stick was moved toward the rear, the link rod Jammed on top of the extinguisher, resulting in on uncontrollable dive. Although equipped with a parachute there was no indication that the pilot had attempted to use it.

This accident was caused by the fire extinguisher becoming loose from its bracket and lodging beneath the elevator controls in a manner which prevented recovery from the resultant dive.

BY THE BOARD

/s/ Fred A. Toombs

Secretary