NTSB investigations: Piper J3C-65

16 cases on aircraft the registry lists as Piper J3C-65, where the first occurrence was “In flight collision with terrain/water”. Aircraft are matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model, so older matches can be wrong.

Cases per year

19822026
NTSB investigations: Piper J3C-65 per year, 1982–2026: 16 cases
19821
19831
19841
19851
19861
19871
19912
19921
19931
19941
19961
19971
20001
20021
20031

Latest cases

Query with SQL
duckdb -csv -c "SELECT c.\"ntsbNumber\", c.\"eventDate\", c.\"eventType\", c.\"eventCity\", c.\"eventStateOrRegion\", a.n_number, a.\"aircraftMake\", a.\"aircraftModel\", c.\"highestInjuryLevel\", c.\"totalFatal\", c.\"completionStatus\", c.report_url
  FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c.\"mKey\" AND a.position = 1
  WHERE c.\"mKey\" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.aircraft_model_code IN ('7100510')
      AND EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_occurrences.parquet' o WHERE o.case_mkey = x.case_mkey AND o.aircrafts_position = x.position AND o.\"occurrenceNumber\" = 1 AND o.\"occurrenceCode\" = 230))
  ORDER BY c.\"eventDate\" DESC, c.\"ntsbNumber\" DESC"

Prints the whole list as CSV. It reads the release’s Parquet files over HTTPS, so there’s nothing to download first. Install DuckDB to run it.

NTSB CHI03LA268Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper J3C-65 · Tocsin, INThe pilot attempting the low altitude turn and his failure to maintain clearance from the corn crop. A factor to the accident was the corn crop.Aug 19, 2003 · N37923 · DestroyedNTSB CHI02LA244Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportPiper J3C-65 · Hillman, MIThe pilot's failure to maintain terrain clearance.Aug 12, 2002 · N6658H · DestroyedNTSB LAX00LA174Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper J3C-65 · Healdsburg, CAFailure of the flight review pilot to compensate for the crosswind and maintain flying speed during takeoff.Apr 27, 2000 · N146TM · Substantial damageNTSB LAX97FA259Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper J3C-85 · Bullhead City, AZimproper judgement of the pilot by intentionally performing low level maneuvers, and his misjudgment of a level-off over water.Jul 28, 1997 · N3339N · DestroyedNTSB NYC96LA179Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper J-3 · Wildwood, NJThe pilot's failure to maintain sufficient altitude during a low altitude maneuver.Sep 2, 1996 · N92085 · Substantial damageNTSB SEA94FA163Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper J3C-65 · Seeley Lake, MTThe pilot in command's failure to maintain flying airspeed.Jul 4, 1994 · N88114 · DestroyedNTSB DEN93LA088Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper J3C-90 · Meeker, COFailure of the pilot to maintain adequate terrain clearance. A factor was the intentional low pass performed by the pilot in command.Jul 28, 1993 · N33111 · DestroyedNTSB BFO92LA072Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportPiper J3C · Camillus, NYThe pilot's failure to properly judge the ground clearance required to perform an aerobatic manuever.May 23, 1992 · N88070 · DestroyedNTSB NYC92FA026Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper L-3 · Plymouth, MAThe improper decision by the non-instrument-rated pilot to attempt VFR flight in instrument meteorological conditions, at a low altitude, which resulted in a collision with the water. Factors related to the accident were: the overconfidence of the pilot in…Nov 3, 1991 · N6AN · DestroyedNTSB CHI91LA240Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper J-3 · Saint Leo, MNPerformance data was misjudged resulting in a positive climb not being attained by the pilot. A factor related to the accident was high density altitude.Jul 20, 1991 · N1402N · Substantial damageNTSB LAX87LA340Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper JC3-65 · Sacramento, CAThe pilot was observed to be flying at a very low altitude by two separate witnesses. They stated that he was flying and maneuvering at approximately 15-20 feet AGL and buzzing powerlines. The pilot stated that he can not remember what happened and that the…Sep 20, 1987 · N6187H · Substantial damageNTSB ATL86LA229Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper J3C-65 · Benson, NCThe acft was being operated at low level beneath power lines when it collided with the ground. The plt said he could not recall the events of the accident. Exam of the acft revealed no defect in the flt controls nor the engine. Exam of the accident site…Aug 26, 1986 · N25803 · DestroyedNTSB LAX85LA405Accident · 2 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportPiper J3 C-65 · Grand Canyon, AZAfter departing pierce ferry, AZ the plt and his passenger flew east, up the Colorado river, at a low level towards kanab point. The plt's notes and charts show that the flt was to turn north for aprx 40 NM, with a refueling stop at kanab, UT. The bright…Sep 17, 1985 · N6566H · DestroyedNTSB BFO85FA006Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper J3C-65 · Waterford, VAThe aircraft was observed flying around the airstrip at dusk. As it passed over the aprx center of the field it was seen to nose over into a steep angle continuing until impact. Investigation revealed no evidence of any mal funtion of the aircraft or the…Nov 6, 1984 · N70645 · DestroyedNTSB MKC83LA096Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper J3C-65 · Minatare, NEThe plt reported that he was making a low pass to look over a possible landing area, when he allowed the acft to inadvertently touch down on soft soil beside the strip. The acft bounced, then landed hard and the main gear collapsed.Apr 27, 1983 · N23472 · Substantial damageNTSB ATL82FKJ12Accident · 1 fatalFinal reportPiper J3C-65 · Alabaster, ALDuring an air show, the aircraft was observed flying slowly over the runway on a southerly heading at about 200 to 250 ft AGL. Full left rudder was applied along with full up elevator and the plane entered a spin. After one turn, full opposite rudder was…May 16, 1982 · N42799 · Destroyed