What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On 06/02/2026 at 1251 EDT, the FAA received a preliminary notice regarding an accident involving Piper J-3 cub. The aircraft experienced a reported loss of engine power shortly after departure from Simsbury Airport (4B9) and came to rest in a field north of the airport near 41 floydville road, Simsbury, CT.
The FAA inspector-in-charge (iic) arrived on scene at 1422 EDT. The aircraft was observed in its final resting position. No fuel leakage, fire, or biohazard conditions were observed.
The pilot reported engine power loss shortly after departure at approximately 400 feet AGL with RPM between 2100 and 2300. A return to the airport was initiated. During the turn, RPM decayed below 2000 and airspeed decreased.
The pilot selected a field north of the airport for a forced landing. At approximately 250 feet AGL, total engine power was lost. The aircraft was configured for a forced landing to a field with furrows. Control was maintained through touchdown. The aircraft came to rest in an agricultural field and contacted an agricultural structure. The pilot and passenger exited the aircraft.
A cursory examination of the aircraft at the accident scene revealed damage to the left wing tip, propeller, and landing gear.
A follow-up examination of the aircraft by the inspector-in-charge (iic) was conducted on June 5, 2026, while the aircraft remained in its original resting position. The examination revealed bent engine mounts and a firewall displaced aft. No wing spar damage was observed. Based on these findings, the aircraft was determined to have sustained substantial damage.
Reported METAR weather at the time of the occurrence was kbdl 021651Z 03004KT 10SM FEW065 BKN090 BKN250 23/06 A3012. Conditions were reported as VMC.
As the FAA filed it
ON 06/02/2026 AT 1251 EDT, THE FAA RECEIVED A PRELIMINARY NOTICE REGARDING AN ACCIDENT INVOLVING PIPER J-3 CUB. THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED A REPORTED LOSS OF ENGINE POWER SHORTLY AFTER DEPARTURE FROM SIMSBURY AIRPORT (4B9) AND CAME TO REST IN A FIELD NORTH OF THE AIRPORT NEAR 41 FLOYDVILLE ROAD, SIMSBURY, CT.
THE FAA INSPECTOR-IN-CHARGE (IIC) ARRIVED ON SCENE AT 1422 EDT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED IN ITS FINAL RESTING POSITION. NO FUEL LEAKAGE, FIRE, OR BIOHAZARD CONDITIONS WERE OBSERVED.
THE PILOT REPORTED ENGINE POWER LOSS SHORTLY AFTER DEPARTURE AT APPROXIMATELY 400 FEET AGL WITH RPM BETWEEN 2100 AND 2300. A RETURN TO THE AIRPORT WAS INITIATED. DURING THE TURN, RPM DECAYED BELOW 2000 AND AIRSPEED DECREASED.
THE PILOT SELECTED A FIELD NORTH OF THE AIRPORT FOR A FORCED LANDING. AT APPROXIMATELY 250 FEET AGL, TOTAL ENGINE POWER WAS LOST. THE AIRCRAFT WAS CONFIGURED FOR A FORCED LANDING TO A FIELD WITH FURROWS. CONTROL WAS MAINTAINED THROUGH TOUCHDOWN. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN AN AGRICULTURAL FIELD AND CONTACTED AN AGRICULTURAL STRUCTURE. THE PILOT AND PASSENGER EXITED THE AIRCRAFT.
A CURSORY EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT AT THE ACCIDENT SCENE REVEALED DAMAGE TO THE LEFT WING TIP, PROPELLER, AND LANDING GEAR.
A FOLLOW-UP EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT BY THE INSPECTOR-IN-CHARGE (IIC) WAS CONDUCTED ON JUNE 5, 2026, WHILE THE AIRCRAFT REMAINED IN ITS ORIGINAL RESTING POSITION. THE EXAMINATION REVEALED BENT ENGINE MOUNTS AND A FIREWALL DISPLACED AFT. NO WING SPAR DAMAGE WAS OBSERVED. BASED ON THESE FINDINGS, THE AIRCRAFT WAS DETERMINED TO HAVE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.
REPORTED METAR WEATHER AT THE TIME OF THE OCCURRENCE WAS KBDL 021651Z 03004KT 10SM FEW065 BKN090 BKN250 23/06 A3012. CONDITIONS WERE REPORTED AS VMC.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.