# NTSB ERA26LA105: Piper J3C, N5930V, Brimfield, OH, February 1, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: February 1, 2026, 14:34 local (19:34 UTC) - Place: Brimfield, OH - Coordinates: 41.094167, -81.348333 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.0942&lon=-81.3483&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report May 7, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 202386 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA26LA105 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202386/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA105 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to use carburetor heat during descent in cold temperatures, which resulted in a total loss of engine power at an altitude too low for recovery. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action selection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 397 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md) - [Engine fuel and control: fuel control/carburetor](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057322): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Not used/operated (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057322/cases.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 195 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057322/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/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 of the of the vintage, 65-hp, tailwheel airplane reported that he had been flying for about 20 minutes. He had applied carburetor heat during some of the flight, but not all of the flight. The pilot was performing low altitude passes over a friend’s farm, in cold temperatures (20° F). He had the engine power near idle as he descended towards the farm for a fourth time and did not have the carburetor heat on. About treetop level, as the pilot increased throttle input, he realized that the engine had lost all power. The pilot performed a forced landing into trees, and the airplane came to rest inverted, resulting in substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The pilot added that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation and that the accident could have been prevented if he applied carburetor heat for the entire flight. Review of the owner’s manual revealed instructions to always have the carburetor heat control full on during long glides such as an approach for landing, as it would tend to keep the engine warm and reduce the possibility of the engine failing to accelerate when the throttle was open suddenly. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5930V](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5930V), registered now, S/N 13081, built 1944 (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: 13081 - Year built: 1944 - Airframe hours: 2036 - Engines: Continental A65-8 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 5, 2025, 3 hours before - Departed: 3G3, Wadworth, OH - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: minor; commercial, flight engineer, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: rear; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 9,534 total, 108 in this make and model, 6,500 as pilot in command, 190 in the last 90 days, 65 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 19 °F, dew point 7 °F - Altimeter: 30.16 inHg - Observed at: AKR, 5 nm away - METAR: METAR KAKR 011954Z AUTO 33006KT 10SM CLR M07/M14 A3016 RMK AO2 SLP233 T10671144= ## 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 20260201000489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260201000489A), Feb 1, 2026: Piper J3C-65, Brimfield, OH, Substantial damage. Pilot doing a low altitude flyby over friend's farm experienced an engine power loss on fourth pass after turning carburetor heat off and applying climb power.… 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.