NTSB investigations: Piper J3C-65

16 cases on aircraft the registry lists as Piper J3C-65, where the defining event was Loss of control in flight. Aircraft are matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model, so older matches can be wrong.

Cases per year

20082026
NTSB investigations: Piper J3C-65 per year, 2008–2026: 16 cases
20082
20091
20112
20121
20143
20171
20181
20191
20211
20221
20241
20251

Latest cases

Query with SQL
duckdb -csv -c "SELECT c.\"ntsbNumber\", c.\"eventDate\", c.\"eventType\", c.\"eventCity\", c.\"eventStateOrRegion\", a.n_number, a.\"aircraftMake\", a.\"aircraftModel\", c.\"highestInjuryLevel\", c.\"totalFatal\", c.\"completionStatus\", c.report_url
  FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c.\"mKey\" AND a.position = 1
  WHERE c.\"mKey\" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.aircraft_model_code IN ('7100510')
      AND EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' e WHERE e.case_mkey = x.case_mkey AND e.aircrafts_position = x.position AND e.\"isDefiningEvent\" AND e.\"tier2Number\" = '240'))
  ORDER BY c.\"eventDate\" DESC, c.\"ntsbNumber\" DESC"

Prints the whole list as CSV. It reads the release’s Parquet files over HTTPS, so there’s nothing to download first. Install DuckDB to run it.

NTSB ANC25FA079Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldPreliminary reportPiper J3C-65 · Dillingham, AKOn July 25, 2025, about 0916 Alaska daylight time, a Piper J3C-65 airplane, N5050R, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Dillingham, Alaska. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal…Jul 25, 2025 · N5050R · Substantial damageNTSB CEN24LA087Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportPiper J3C · Park Rapids, MNThe pilot’s failure to maintain directional control and terrain clearance during initial climb, that resulted in an impact with trees and terrain.Jan 9, 2024 · N1401V · Substantial damageNTSB ERA22LA107Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportPiper J3C · Winter Haven, FLThe pilot receiving instruction’s failure to maintain airspeed during a turn, which resulted in an exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack and a subsequent aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s failure to…Jan 12, 2022 · N88509 · Substantial damageNTSB CEN21FA345Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportPiper J3C-65 · Hartford, WIThe flight crew’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack during a simulated engine failure during initial climb after takeoff, which led to an aerodynamic stall/spin and loss of control. Contributing to the severity of the occupants’ injuries…Jul 31, 2021 · N42522 · Substantial damageNTSB GAA19CA575Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportPiper J3C · Lander, WYThe pilot's failure to maintain lateral control during takeoff with a quartering tailwind, which resulted in the right wing striking the ground, a runway excursion, impact with a fence, and a subsequent noseover.Sep 26, 2019 · N33463 · Substantial damageNTSB WPR18LA257Accident · No injuriesClass 2 · LimitedFinal reportPiper J3C · Jackson, CAA loss of directional control during takeoff and initial climb for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.Sep 8, 2018 · N70192 · Substantial damageNTSB CEN17FA196Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper J3C · Chetek, WIThe pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane while flying at a low altitude, which resulted in the airplane exceeding the critical angle of attack and a subsequent aerodynamic stall.May 24, 2017 · N35132 · Substantial damageNTSB ERA14FA455Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper J3C-65 · Fort Gaines, GAThe pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during flight, which resulted in a collision with a river.Sep 16, 2014 · N95480 · Substantial damageNTSB WPR14FA234Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper J3C · Paso Robles, CAThe pilot's steep right turn shortly after takeoff, which led to the airplane exceeding its critical angle-of-attack and experiencing an aerodynamic stall.Jun 7, 2014 · N24918 · Substantial damageNTSB ERA14LA137Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper J3C-65 · Macon, GAThe pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control while maneuvering in the traffic pattern at low altitude in gusting wind. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s improper decision to maneuver in the traffic pattern at a low altitude that did not allow…Feb 19, 2014 · N9026N · Substantial damageNTSB ERA12CA281Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportPiper J3C-65 · Plantation Key, FLThe pilot’s failure to maintain adequate control of the airplane and ensure clearance from trees.Apr 13, 2012 · N75487 · Substantial damageNTSB CEN11CA498Accident · Serious injuriesData collectionFinal reportPiper J3C-65 · Williams Lake, MIA loss of control during approach due to the front seat passenger's belt buckle being wedged between the rear seat,the rudder pedal and floor board.Jul 19, 2011 · N88000 · Substantial damageNTSB CEN11CA406Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportPiper J3C-65 · Shepard, TXthe pilot's loss of aircraft control after encountering windshear and turbulence on takeoff.Jun 17, 2011 · N3504K · Substantial damageNTSB CEN09CA566Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportPiper J3C-65 · Mondovi, WIThe pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while in the traffic pattern, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.Sep 6, 2009 · N3549W · Substantial damageNTSB MIA08CA117Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportPiper J3C-65 · Fayetteville, GAThe pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during climbout. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's relinquish of control to a non-certificated pilot.Jun 10, 2008 · N35702 · Substantial damageNTSB SEA08CA109Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportPiper J3C-65 · Bisbee, AZThe pilot's failure to obtain/maintain sufficient airspeed after takeoff, which resulted in a stall/mush condition.Apr 8, 2008 · N3228N · Substantial damage