# Accident 20250504008419A: Piper J3C-65, Wilson, KS, May 4, 2025

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 4, 2025, 13:25 local time
- Place: Wilson, KS
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.8273° N, 98.4258° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8273&lon=-98.4258&mi=10
- Aircraft: N98416, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N98416) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper J3C-65 (registry code 7100510, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3c-65) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental A&C65 series (registry code 17003, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER J3C-65
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR A&C65 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,125 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN25FA166](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25FA166) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250504008419A

## Narrative

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

ON MAY 4, 2025, AT APPROXIMATELY 13:25 LOCAL TIME, A PIPER J3C-65 AIRCRAFT, WAS DESTROYED IN AN ACCIDENT NEAR WILSON, KANSAS. THE SOLE OCCUPANT, THE PILOT, SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES.

ACCORDING TO WITNESS STATEMENTS, THE AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED IN A SHALLOW CLIMB WHEN IT ENTERED A RIGHT BANK AND BEGAN DESCENDING IN A NOSE-LOW ATTITUDE. THE BANK ANGLE CONTINUED TO INCREASE, AND THE NOSE-DOWN ATTITUDE STEEPENED UNTIL THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED TERRAIN IN A NEAR-VERTICAL DESCENT. NO DISTRESS CALLS WERE REPORTED FROM THE PILOT DURING THE EVENT.

INVESTIGATION OF THE ACCIDENT SITE AND WRECKAGE REVEALED NO ANOMALIES WITH FLIGHT CONTROL CONTINUITY OR ENGINE OPERATION. NO EVIDENCE OF A PRE-IMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE WAS IDENTIFIED THAT WOULD HAVE PREVENTED NORMAL OPERATION OF THE AIRCRAFT.

## 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 CEN25FA166](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25FA166), May 4, 2025: Piper J3C-65 (N98416), Wilson, KS, destroyed, 1 fatal, investigation ongoing

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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