# NTSB CEN25LA249: Piper J3C-65, N88220, Howard, WI, July 13, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 13, 2025, 08:41 local (13:41 UTC) - Place: Howard, WI · airport fence - Coordinates: 44.581986, -88.14225 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.5820&lon=-88.1423&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards - NTSB case key (mKey): 200519 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA249 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200519/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200519 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA249 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane while on approach to land. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 43 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 54 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was practicing takeoffs and landings in the traffic pattern. He noted that the approach was normal, and the airplane was on the glideslope. As the airplane descended below the tree line, it suddenly lost altitude, and the airplane struck a wire fence near the end of the runway. The right main landing gear became entangled in the fence; however, the pilot was able to continue the landing. The entangled wire from the fence eventually became taut and brought the airplane to an abrupt stop and the airplane nosed over. The wings, wing struts, vertical stabilizer, and rudder sustained substantial damage during the landing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N88220](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N88220), registered now, S/N 15837, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER J3C-65 - Registry model: [Piper J3C-65](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3c-65) (registry code 7100510) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15837 - Year built: 1946 - Airframe hours: 3104 - Engines: Continental A75 75 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 6, 2024, 13 hours before - Departed: 08WI, Howard, WI - Destination: 08WI, Howard, WI - Airport: 08WI, Faikel Airfield, runway 16, 1,100 × 60 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 11, 2024; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 180 total, 87 in this make and model, 116 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 6 knots - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.99 inHg - Observed at: KGRB, 6 nm away - METAR: METAR KGRB 131353Z 26006KT 5SM HZ CLR 21/17 A2999 ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20250713012409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250713012409A), Jul 13, 2025: Piper J3C-65, Howard, WI, Substantial damage. On July 13, 2025 about 1100 CST, [privacy data omitted] registered as a Piper cub J3C-65 airplane piloted by the [privacy data omitted], was substantially… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 5, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200519. 3.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 3.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19094916&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Report%20--%20CEN25LA249_redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 470 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19098184&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photos%20--%20CEN25LA249-Rel.pdf 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.