# NTSB CEN26LA266: Piper J3C-65, N92432, Richmond, TX, July 20, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report
- Date: July 20, 2026, 06:43 local (11:43 UTC)
- Place: Richmond, TX
- Coordinates: 29.688415, -95.83856 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.6884&lon=-95.8386&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Unknown: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration, Houston FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 203452
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26LA266
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203452/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA266

## Preliminary report

On July 20, 2026, at 0643 central daylight time, a Piper J3C-65 airplane, N92432, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Richmond, Texas. The commercial pilot sustained serious injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The airplane impacted the roof of a house near the airport traffic pattern for Covey Trails Airport, Richmond, Texas. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. The pilot stated that he did not remember the circumstances leading to and nature of the accident. Postaccident examination of the airplane confirmed flight control continuity from the cockpit flight controls to the respective flight control surfaces. The two-blade wood propeller and metal propeller spinner did not display torsional features consistent with engine power. The airplane was retained for further examination.

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Unknown: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N92432](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N92432), registered now, S/N 16899, 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: 16899
- Year built: 1946
- Airframe hours: 3130
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Pilot
- Registered owner: Pilot
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 6, 2025
- Departed: X09, Richmond, TX
- Destination: X09, RIchmond, TX

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 280° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 75 °F
- Altimeter: 29.99 inHg
- Observed at: TME, 8 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20260720008859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260720008859A), Jul 20, 2026: Piper J3C-65, Richmond, TX, Destroyed. According to preliminary pilot statements and video accounts, the flight departed the airfield to the south for a local sunrise observation. The aircraft…

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.

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