# Accident 20260720008859A: Piper J3C-65, Richmond, TX, July 20, 2026

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 20, 2026, 06:41 local time
- Place: Richmond, TX
- Airport: Covey Trails
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Descent
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 29.6884° N, 95.8386° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.6884&lon=-95.8386&mi=10
- Aircraft: N92432, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N92432) (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: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 5,045 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN26LA266](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA266) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260720008859A

## Narrative

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

ACCORDING TO PRELIMINARY PILOT STATEMENTS AND VIDEO ACCOUNTS, THE FLIGHT DEPARTED THE AIRFIELD TO THE SOUTH FOR A LOCAL SUNRISE OBSERVATION. THE AIRCRAFT EXECUTED A RIGHT TURN TO THE WEST, TRACKED BACK ACROSS THE AIRFIELD HEADING EAST, AND CLIMBED TO APPROXIMATELY 2,000 TO 3,000 FEET. AFTER VIEWING THE SUNRISE, THE PILOT INITIATED A TURN BACK TO THE WEST AND STARTED A DESCENT.  THE PILOT REPORTS A COMPLETE LAPSE OF MEMORY (RETROGRADE AMNESIA) FROM THIS POINT OF DESCENT ONWARD.  PILOT SUFFERED HEAD TRAMA DURING THE ACCIDENT AND A BROKEN ANKLE.  NEIGHBOR SECURITY CAMERA FOOTAGE (AUDIO UNAVAILABLE) CAPTURED THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDING IN A CLEAN GLIDE PROFILE BEFORE IT IMPACTED A RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURE LOCATED ON THE EAST SIDE OF COVEY TRAILS AIRFIELD. POST-ACCIDENT EXAMINATION CONFIRMED FLIGHT CONTROL CONTINUITY FROM THE COCKPIT CONTROLS TO ALL RESPECTIVE FLIGHT CONTROL SURFACES.  POWERPLANT / PROPELLER: THE TWO-BLADE WOOD PROPELLER AND METAL SPINNER EXHIBITED LITTLE TO NO ROTATION MARKS AND LACKED TORSIONAL DAMAGE FEATURES TYPICALLY CONSISTENT WITH AN ENGINE PRODUCING POWER AT THE TIME OF IMPACT.  IMPACT SITE: THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE ROOF/STRUCTURE OF A RESIDENCE SITUATED ON THE EASTERN PERIMETER OF THE AIRPARK RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY.  PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT PHYSICAL EVIDENCE—SPECIFICALLY THE LACK OF PROPELLER TORSIONAL DAMAGE COMBINED WITH VIDEO CONFIRMATION OF A CLEAN GLIDE PATH—STRONGLY INDICATES AN UNPOWERED FLIGHT PROFILE (ENGINE STARVATION, FAILURE, OR STOPPAGE) DURING THE FINAL MANEUVER BACK TOWARD THE AIRPORT ENVIRONMENT. INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING TO DETERMINE THE EXACT CAUSE OF POWER LOSS AND SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF CONTROL.

## 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 CEN26LA266](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA266), Jul 20, 2026: Piper J3C-65 (N92432), Richmond, TX, substantial damage, 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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