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NTSB investigations: Piper J3C-65, ME

19 cases on aircraft the registry lists as Piper J3C-65. 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.

Defining event

Finding

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Cases per year

19642026

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Latest cases

Query with SQL

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."eventStateOrRegion" = 'ME' AND c."eventCountry" = 'USA' AND c."mKey" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.aircraft_model_code IN ('7100510')) ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC

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.\"eventStateOrRegion\" = 'ME' AND c.\"eventCountry\" = 'USA'
    AND c.\"mKey\" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.aircraft_model_code IN ('7100510'))
  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.

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."eventStateOrRegion" = 'ME' AND c."eventCountry" = 'USA'
  AND c."mKey" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.aircraft_model_code IN ('7100510'))
ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC

Run it at the DuckDB prompt, or in any tool that reads Parquet over HTTPS. More ways to query the release are on Use the data.

NTSB ERA27LA018Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedInvestigation openPiper J3C-65 · Limington, MEOct 10, 2026 · N6340H · Substantial damage NTSB NYC06CA126Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportPiper J3C · Old Town, METhe pilot's failure to maintain airspeed, which resulted in an inadvertent stall and subsequent impact with water.May 29, 2006 · N1401V · Substantial damage NTSB IAD02LA019Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper J3 · Livermore Falls, METhe pilot's failure to maintain proper altitude clearance while landing, which resulted in a collision with trees. A factor was the crosswind.Dec 7, 2001 · N40621 · Substantial damage NTSB NYC95LA216Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper J-3 · Boothbay Harbor, MEthe pilot's misjudgment of distance and altitude, while on final approach to land. Factors relating to the accident were: sunglare, and the pilot's lack of visual cues (visual perception).Sep 3, 1995 · N98503 · Substantial damage NTSB NYC95LA036Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper J3C · Waldoboro, METhe pilot's premature lift off which resulted in insufficient climb performance and collision with trees.Nov 25, 1994 · N98542 · Substantial damage NTSB 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 damage NTSB NYC90LA212Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper J3 · Elliotville, MEA power loss for unknown reasons over unsuitable terrain.Sep 5, 1990 · N202CJ · Destroyed NTSB NYC88LA007Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportPiper J3 · Island Falls, METhe 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…Oct 14, 1987 · N92440 · Destroyed NTSB NYC83FA172Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper J3C-65S · Abbot Village, METhe acft was observed to depart a pond to the south & climb over trees when the eng lost power. The acft started a rightbank as if to return to the pond & stalled into the trees. One witness heard the eng restart just before the crash. The last annual…Jul 11, 1983 · N42847 · Destroyed NTSB NYC83IA013Incident · No injuriesIncident investigationFinal reportPiper J3C-65 · Augusta, METhe student and flight instructor (CFI) of Cessna 172, N5742T, started to taxi while the student and CFI of Piper JC3-65, N25973, were landing. The Cessna aircrew saw the Piper land and turn off onto the same taxiway that they were on, but from the opposite…Oct 25, 1982 · N25973 · 2 aircraft · Minor damage NTSB NYC81DNC22Accident · Serious injuriesClosedPiper J3C · Greenville, MESep 13, 1981 · N28099 · Substantial damage NTSB NYC73FNC73Accident · No injuriesClosedPiper J3-65 · Augusta, MEMay 26, 1973 · N42571 · Substantial damage NTSB NYC72FNC16Accident · No injuriesClosedPiper J3C-65 · East Dixfield, MEDec 5, 1971 · N98462 · Substantial damage NTSB NYC68F0440Accident · Serious injuriesClosedPiper J3C · Topsham, MEApr 13, 1968 · N42821 · Substantial damage NTSB NYC67F0391Accident · No injuriesClosedPiper J3C-65 · Farmington, MEDec 4, 1966 · N25972 · Substantial damage NTSB NYC67F0032Accident · No injuriesClosedPiper J365 · Ft Kent, MEJul 10, 1966 · N30779 · Substantial damage NTSB NYC66D0098Accident · No injuriesClosedPiper J-3 · Redington Pond, MEJul 5, 1965 · N49618 · Substantial damage NTSB UNK64X3948Accident · No injuriesClosedPiper J3C · Veazie, MESep 12, 1964 · N3336N · Substantial damage NTSB UNK64X3573Accident · Minor injuriesClosedPiper J3C · Somerset City, MEAug 24, 1964 · N25784 · Substantial damage