NTSB investigations: Piper J3C-65

25 cases on aircraft the registry lists as Piper J3C-65, where the first occurrence was “Loss of engine power”. 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: 25 cases
19821
19831
19841
19861
19881
19901
19912
19932
19962
19972
19981
19991
20001
20011
20032
20051
20063
20071

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\" = 350))
  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 MIA07LA129Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper J3C-65 · Andersonville, GAThe pilot's improper decision to make a 180-degree turn at low altitude to return to the departure runway following a loss of engine power during takeoff-initial climb. A factor in the accident was contamination in the carburetor.Aug 1, 2007 · N5721N · Substantial damageNTSB DFW07CA035Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportPiper J3C-65 · Humnoke, ARThe loss of engine power during initial takeoff climb for undetermined reasons. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.Dec 6, 2006 · N7054H · Substantial damageNTSB CHI06LA211Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper J3C-65 · New Market, MNA loss of engine power due to the fatigue fracture of the crankshaft and camshaft gear teeth during cruise flight and the unsuitable landing area encountered by the pilot during the forced landing.Jul 24, 2006 · N7012H · Substantial damageNTSB DFW06CA126Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportPiper J3C-65 · Paris, TXThe reported loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain available for the forced landing.May 14, 2006 · N98829 · Substantial damageNTSB ATL05LA117Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper J3C-65 · Mocksville, NCThe loss of engine power due to fuel system contamination. A factor was trees.Jun 29, 2005 · N38341 · Substantial damageNTSB CHI03LA299Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper J3C-65 · South Shore, SDA loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A factor was the soft terrain encountered during the forced landing.Sep 4, 2003 · N38435 · Substantial damageNTSB CHI03LA125Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper J3C-65 · Wilmot, WIThe loss of engine power for an undetermined reason, and the unsuitable terrain encountered for the forced landing. A factor was the fence.May 14, 2003 · N70971 · Substantial damageNTSB IAD01LA050Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper J3-C65 · Clarksburg, WVThe pilot's failure to perform fuel consumption calculations and incorrect positioning of the fuel tank selector, which resulted in fuel starvation of the engine.Apr 29, 2001 · N78521 · Substantial damageNTSB MIA00LA158Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper J-3 · Boca Raton, FLa loss of engine power due to undetermined reasons that resulted in a forced landing and substantial damage to the aircraft.May 14, 2000 · N70546 · Substantial damageNTSB LAX99LA222Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper J3C-65 · Elko, NVThe pilot's failure to reject the takeoff after noting that the engine would not produce takeoff power.Jun 19, 1999 · N26842 · Substantial damageNTSB ATL98LA091Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper J3C-65 · Zellwood, FLThe loss of engine power for undetermined reasons which led to a forced landing and nose over. A factor affecting the severity of the damage was the soft terrain.Jul 4, 1998 · N42760 · Substantial damageNTSB MIA98LA004Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper J3C-65 · Trenton, GAfailure of the pilot to abort the takeoff, when he observed an indication of less than full engine power on the tachometer from the beginning of the takeoff roll. Factors relating to the accident were: the inadequate preflight planning and preparation by the…Oct 4, 1997 · N30236 · Substantial damageNTSB NYC97FA159Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper J3C-65 · Danbury, CTThe pilot's failure to takeoff with the fuel selector in the full on position, which resulted in fuel starvation. Also causal was the pilot's improper in-flight decision to attempt a 180 degree turn back to the runway, which resulted in the inadvertent…Aug 4, 1997 · N24565 · DestroyedNTSB CHI96LA198Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper J-3 · Princeton, MNLoss of engine power for an undetermined reason.Jun 12, 1996 · N35505 · Substantial damageNTSB CHI96FA135Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper J-3 · Raymond, NEfailure of the pilot to ensure that the fuel selector was properly positioned to the full 'on' position before takeoff, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation during the initial climb after takeoff; and the pilot's failure to maintain…Apr 18, 1996 · N6510H · DestroyedNTSB NYC93LA147Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper J3C-65 · Stonington, CTThe pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed which resulted in an inadvertent stall/spin, and the pilot's improper use of the carburetor heat which resulted in the accretion of carburetor ice. A factor was carburetor icing conditions.Aug 11, 1993 · N98382 · Substantial damageNTSB BFO93LA052Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper J3C-65 · New Gloucester, MELoss of engine power during takeoff due to undetermined reasons, and failure of the pilot to maintain adequate airspeed, which resulted in an inadvertent stall.Mar 19, 1993 · N25881 · Substantial damageNTSB NYC91LA201Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper J3-C65 · Westerly, RIEngine failure for an undetermined reason. A factor was the pilot misjudging the clearance over a fence during an attempted forced landing.Aug 6, 1991 · N30837 · Substantial damageNTSB NYC91LA072Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper J-3-C · Hamilton, OHThe failure of the pilot-in-command to touchdown in a suitable area after he experienced a power loss. A factor related to the accident was the improperly maintained carburetor.Feb 4, 1991 · N6337H · Substantial damageNTSB NYC90LA212Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper J3 · Elliotville, MEA power loss for unknown reasons over unsuitable terrain.Sep 5, 1990 · N202CJ · DestroyedNTSB MIA89LA036Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper J3C · Homestead, FLThe plt rprtd that while climbing at night after takeoff, the eng sputtered. He suspected possible water in the fuel & landed across rows in a field. Drg the landing, the gear failed & the acft came to rest on its belly with a bent prop, torn fabric & dmgd…Oct 25, 1988 · N26820 · Substantial damageNTSB ATL86LA188Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper J3C-65 · Welch, WVWitnesses reported that the pilot had worked on the engine carburetor for some time as well as just before the accident takeoff. At about 200 feet after takeoff from rwy 27 the engine quit and the pilot made a left turn back to the rwy and tried to align the…Jul 7, 1986 · N70824 · DestroyedNTSB MIA84LA209Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper J3C-65 · Miami, FLThe plt stated that at about 100 ft AGL the eng lost power but continued to run at a lower power until ground impact. No eng malfunction was found. A post accident exam of the acft revealed no reason for the loss of power.Jul 24, 1984 · N2166Y · Substantial damageNTSB DEN84LA018Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper J3C-65 · Parker, CODuring the takeoff portion of a touch & go, the eng went to idle 15 ft AGL. The plt made a left turn & landed in a fieldcollapsing the landing gear. Investigation of the wreckage revealed that the carburetor was hanging in place by the throttle & mixture…Oct 27, 1983 · N29037 · Substantial damageNTSB MIA83LA026Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper J-3 · Near Melbourne, FLPilot made forced landing off airport due to power loss. Landing gear collapsed. No malfunctions found.Nov 8, 1982 · N6875H · Substantial damage