# NTSB investigations: Piper J3C-65: Loss of control in flight

NTSB aviation accident and incident investigations since 1962: the probable cause, findings, aircraft, crew, weather and docket of each, linked to the FAA registry and the FAA’s own reports.

## Latest cases

- [NTSB ANC25FA079](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25FA079.md): Piper J3C-65 · Dillingham, AK · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Preliminary report · Jul 25, 2025 · N5050R · Substantial damage
  > On 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…
- [NTSB CEN24LA087](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA087.md): Piper J3C · Park Rapids, MN · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jan 9, 2024 · N1401V · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control and terrain clearance during initial climb, that resulted in an impact with trees and terrain.
- [NTSB ERA22FA354](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22FA354.md): Piper J3C-65 · Cynthiana, KY · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Aug 3, 2022 · N88550 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed and his exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall while maneuvering to land with approaching convective activity.
- [NTSB ERA22LA107](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA107.md): Piper J3C · Winter Haven, FL · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jan 12, 2022 · N88509 · Substantial damage
  > The 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…
- [NTSB CEN21FA345](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21FA345.md): Piper J3C-65 · Hartford, WI · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Jul 31, 2021 · N42522 · Substantial damage
  > The 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…
- [NTSB GAA19CA575](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA575.md): Piper J3C · Lander, WY · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Sep 26, 2019 · N33463 · Substantial damage
  > The 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.
- [NTSB CEN19LA297](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19LA297.md): Piper J3C · Independence Charter Township, MI · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Sep 2, 2019 · N98278 · Substantial damage
  > The reduction in climb performance for reasons that could not be determined. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane after the loss of performance.
- [NTSB CEN19FA191](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19FA191.md): Piper J3C · Elyria, OH · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Jun 30, 2019 · N98527 · Substantial damage
  > A loss of engine power due to carburetor icing, and the pilot’s subsequent exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and impact with terrain.
- [NTSB WPR18LA257](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18LA257.md): Piper J3C · Jackson, CA · Accident · No injuries · Class 2 · Limited · Final report · Sep 8, 2018 · N70192 · Substantial damage
  > A loss of directional control during takeoff and initial climb for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.
- [NTSB ERA17LA328](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17LA328.md): Piper J3C · Hanover Township, PA · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Sep 16, 2017 · N38365 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain roll control while maneuvering, which resulted in a collision with trees and terrain.
- [NTSB CEN17FA196](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17FA196.md): Piper J3C · Chetek, WI · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · May 24, 2017 · N35132 · Substantial damage
  > The 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.
- [NTSB ERA14FA455](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14FA455.md): Piper J3C-65 · Fort Gaines, GA · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Sep 16, 2014 · N95480 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during flight, which resulted in a collision with a river.
- [NTSB WPR14FA234](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14FA234.md): Piper J3C · Paso Robles, CA · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jun 7, 2014 · N24918 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's steep right turn shortly after takeoff, which led to the airplane exceeding its critical angle-of-attack and experiencing an aerodynamic stall.
- [NTSB ERA14LA137](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14LA137.md): Piper J3C-65 · Macon, GA · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Feb 19, 2014 · N9026N · Substantial damage
  > The 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…
- [NTSB ERA12CA281](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA281.md): Piper J3C-65 · Plantation Key, FL · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Apr 13, 2012 · N75487 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate control of the airplane and ensure clearance from trees.
- [NTSB CEN11CA498](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA498.md): Piper J3C-65 · Williams Lake, MI · Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 19, 2011 · N88000 · Substantial damage
  > A 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.
- [NTSB CEN11CA406](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA406.md): Piper J3C-65 · Shepard, TX · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jun 17, 2011 · N3504K · Substantial damage
  > the pilot's loss of aircraft control after encountering windshear and turbulence on takeoff.
- [NTSB CEN10LA002](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10LA002.md): Piper J3C-65 · Rosemount, MN · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Oct 3, 2009 · N70585 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's delayed use of carburetor heat while operating in conditions conducive to carburetor icing.
- [NTSB CEN09CA566](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA566.md): Piper J3C-65 · Mondovi, WI · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Sep 6, 2009 · N3549W · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while in the traffic pattern, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.
- [NTSB MIA08CA117](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA08CA117.md): Piper J3C-65 · Fayetteville, GA · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jun 10, 2008 · N35702 · Substantial damage
  > The 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.
- [NTSB SEA08CA109](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA08CA109.md): Piper J3C-65 · Bisbee, AZ · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Apr 8, 2008 · N3228N · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to obtain/maintain sufficient airspeed after takeoff, which resulted in a stall/mush condition.

## The whole list in SQL

Runs in DuckDB 1.2 or later on the release's Parquet files over HTTPS:

```sql
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' s WHERE s.case_mkey = x.case_mkey AND s.aircrafts_position = x.position AND s."tier2Number" = '240' AND s.case_mkey IN (SELECT case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' WHERE "isDefiningEvent")))
ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC
```

This list as a web page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence?model=7100510

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