20260201000489A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Piper J3C-65 · Brimfield, OH · February 1, 2026

Date: February 1, 2026 · 03:10 local
Place: Brimfield, OH
Phase of flight: Descent
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N5930V
NTSB investigation: NTSBERA26LA105
Reported as: Piper J3C-65
Reported engine: Continental A&C65 series
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 2
Pilot’s certificates: Airline transport, commercial pilot, flight instructor
Pilot’s flight hours: 9,534 total108 in this make and model194 in the last 90 days

N5930VRegistered now · Piper J3C-65S/N 13081 · Built 1944 Airframe modelPiper J3C-65 Engine modelContinental A&C65 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Pilot doing a low altitude flyby over friend's farm experienced an engine power loss on fourth pass after turning carburetor heat off and applying climb power. Pilot was unable to attempt restart or maneuver to avoid tree line ahead. Aircraft hit tree tops flipping over and crashing inverted on frozen creek.

Piper J3C-65 owners manual section vii page 33 carburetor heat, recomend use of carburator heat during long glides to reduce possibility of engine failing to accelerate when the throtle is opened suddenly.

As the FAA filed it

PILOT DOING A LOW ALTITUDE FLYBY OVER FRIEND'S FARM EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE POWER LOSS ON FOURTH PASS AFTER TURNING CARBURETOR HEAT OFF AND APPLYING CLIMB POWER. PILOT WAS UNABLE TO ATTEMPT RESTART OR MANEUVER TO AVOID TREE LINE AHEAD. AIRCRAFT HIT TREE TOPS FLIPPING OVER AND CRASHING INVERTED ON FROZEN CREEK.

PIPER J3C-65 OWNERS MANUAL SECTION VII PAGE 33 CARBURETOR HEAT, RECOMEND USE OF CARBURATOR HEAT DURING LONG GLIDES TO REDUCE POSSIBILITY OF ENGINE FAILING TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE THROTLE IS OPENED SUDDENLY.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB ERA26LA105Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBrimfield, OHThe pilot’s failure to use carburetor heat during descent in cold temperatures, which resulted in a total loss of engine power at an altitude too low for recovery.Feb 1, 2026 · Substantial damage