- Date
- October 14, 1987, 15:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place
- Island Falls, ME
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N92440Piper J3
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 26, 1989
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19871014059629A
- Case key
- 36031
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 Piper J-3 cub experienced a power loss while cruising at an altitude described by witnesses as just above the trees. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was fatally injured. Examination of the engine disclosed that that fuel drain valve on the fuel gascolator was missing. In addition no evidence of fuel was found on the aircraft.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N92440
- Reported as
- Piper J3
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 16907
- Airframe hours
- 5,720
- Engine
- Continental C90-8F, 90 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Millard W.Ireland
- Registered owner
- Millard W. Ireland
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 25, 1987 · 93 hours before
- Departed
- Sherman, ME
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
- 62
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Rear
- Flight hours
- 2,300 total · 1,700 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.