- Date
- November 6, 1984, 18:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place
- Waterford, VA
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N70645Piper J3C-65
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19841106060489A
- Case key
- 11120
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The aircraft was observed flying around the airstrip at dusk. As it passed over the aprx center of the field it was seen to nose over into a steep angle continuing until impact. Investigation revealed no evidence of any mal funtion of the aircraft or the engine. Further investigation into the pilots background uncovered that he was going through divorce proceedings to include a custody problem with two children. In addition a note was found in the pocket of the pilot indicating the termination of a relationship immediately proceeding the fatal flight. The pilot had obtained prior permission to fly 1 of the 2 J3 cubs based at the field, however, the aircraft involved in the accident was not the one. N70645 was owned by a pilot who admitted to being 'real good friends' with the victims wife.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N70645
- Reported as
- Piper J3C-65
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17663
- Engine
- Continental A-65-8, 65 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Carlton Payne Jr.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 27, 1984
- Departed
- Waterford, VA
- Airport
- Carr Field, runway 27, 1,500 × 45 ft, grass/turf
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 36
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor, Private
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Front
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 1,200 total · 1,010 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Wind
- 350° at 12 knots
- Visibility
- 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 43 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- IAD, 15 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.