# NTSB ERA26LA225: Piper J5C-65, N331JM, East Granby, CT, June 2, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report
- Date: June 2, 2026, 11:51 local (15:51 UTC)
- Place: East Granby, CT · tree nursery
- Coordinates: 41.926579, -72.776562 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9266&lon=-72.7766&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 203113
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA26LA225
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203113/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA225

## Preliminary report

On June 2, 2026, at 1151 eastern daylight time, a Piper J3C-65, N331JM, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near East Granby, Connecticut. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot stated that after takeoff, when the airplane was about 400 ft, he noticed the engine rpm drop slightly. When the rpm continued to drop, he turned to return to the airport. As the airplane descended to about 200 ft, the engine lost all power. The pilot subsequently conducted a forced landing in a farm field. The airplane struck a greenhouse and the landing gear partially collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine mount. The airplane was retained for examination.

## Sequence of events

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

- [Takeoff: 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)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N331JM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N331JM), registered now, S/N 22158, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER J5C-65
- Registry model: [Piper J3C-65](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3c-65) (registry code 7100510) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental C90 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (registry code 17009, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 22158
- Year built: 1946
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: 4B9, Simsbury

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 40° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observed at: KBDL, 4 nm away
- METAR: METAR KBDL 021551Z 04009KT 10SM FEW060 BKN250 23/07 A3014

## 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 20260602006599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260602006599A), Jun 2, 2026: Piper J3C-65, Granby, CT, Substantial damage. On 06/02/2026 at 1251 EDT, the FAA received a preliminary notice regarding an accident involving Piper J-3 cub. The aircraft experienced a reported loss of…

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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