# Accident 19870531035139A: Piper J3L65, Mercer, PA, May 31, 1987

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 31, 1987, 18:00 local time
- Place: Mercer, PA
- Airport: Nelsons Run
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.2199° N, 80.2309° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.2199&lon=-80.2309&mi=10
- Aircraft: N38346, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N38346) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper J3L-65 (registry code 7100546, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3l-65) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-145B series (registry code 41502, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-145b-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER J3L65
- Reported engine: CONT A658
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,000 total, 700 in this make and model, 60 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC87LA157](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC87LA157) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870531035139A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

SETTLED INTO TREES AT END OF RUNWAY AFTER LIFTOFF. PILOT BLAMED A DOWNDRAFT FOR THE INABILITY TO REMAIN AIRBORNE.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB NYC87LA157](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC87LA157), May 31, 1987: Piper J-3 (N38346), Mercer, PA, substantial damage

## Other reports on N38346 (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19880827035429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880827035429A), Aug 27, 1988: Piper J3L65 (N38346), Youngstown, OH, Substantial damage. Ran out of fuel on approach to airport. Impacted 25 feet short of runway.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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