Skip to content

NTSB investigations: Piper J3C-65, VA

23 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

Phase of flight

Aircraft model

Cases per year

19642026

Where

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" = 'VA' 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\" = 'VA' 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" = 'VA' 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 GAA19CA276Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportPiper J3C · Louisa, VAThe pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing, which resulted in a runway excursion and the landing gear collapsing.May 22, 2019 · N30683 · Substantial damage NTSB ERA19FA003Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper J3C · Fancy Gap, VAThe non-instrument-rated pilot's improper decision to undertake a flight into forecast instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) and his subsequent decision to continue the flight after encountering IMC, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.…Oct 6, 2018 · N38811 · Substantial damage NTSB ERA14LA433Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper J3C 65 · Carrol County, VAThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from trees during an emergency landing after encountering deteriorating weather conditions. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s poor preflight weather planning, which resulted in an inadvertent encounter with…Sep 10, 2014 · N26105 · Substantial damage NTSB ERA10CA355Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportPiper J3C-65 · Warrenton, VAThe pilot's improper flare during a precautionary landing, which resulted in a hard landing.Jul 5, 2010 · N33554 · Substantial damage NTSB BFO91LA051Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportSmith, Ted Aerostar STP1 · Quinton, VAThe pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from a moving aircraft.May 26, 1991 · N949Z · 2 aircraft · Substantial damage NTSB BFO88FA082Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper J3C-65 · Orange, VAPilot initiated lift off before flying speed was gained and as a result the aircraft had a loss of aerodynamic lift and stalled on the initial takeoff climb. The pilot's inadequate inflight decision and failure to abort the takeoff are contributing factors.Sep 11, 1988 · N98121 · Destroyed NTSB 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 · Destroyed NTSB ATL83FA271Accident · Serious injuriesField investigationFinal reportPiper J3C-65 · Remington, VAAbout 15 min after takeoff, the eng lost power while the acft was on the downwind leg for a landing on a private strip. Subsequently, the acft hit the tops of two trees, crashed & came to rest aprx 100 yards south of the rwy. An exam of the wreckage did not…Jul 13, 1983 · N27111 · Destroyed NTSB ATL80FID19Accident · No injuriesClosedPiper J-3 · Quinton, VAMay 2, 1980 · N42779 · Substantial damage NTSB IAD79FID35Accident · Minor injuriesClosedPiper PA-12 · Chesapeake, VASep 8, 1979 · N72HW · Substantial damage NTSB IAD77DID23Accident · Minor injuriesClosedPiper J3C-65 · Woolwine, VAJul 3, 1977 · N7157H · Substantial damage NTSB IAD733ID20Accident · No injuriesClosedPiper J3C-65 · Blairs, VAApr 29, 1973 · N70449 · Substantial damage NTSB NYC72FID26Accident · Serious injuriesClosedPiper J3C-65 · Bedford, VAApr 16, 1972 · N6878H · Substantial damage NTSB IAD70DID21Accident · No injuriesClosedPiper J3C · Sealston, VAMay 21, 1970 · N98889 · Substantial damage NTSB IAD70A0025Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper J-3 · Topping, VAOct 11, 1969 · N92437 · Substantial damage NTSB IAD70D0057Accident · No injuriesClosedPiper J3C-65 · Virginia Beach, VAAug 17, 1969 · N58462 · Destroyed NTSB DIA68F0081Accident · No injuriesClosedPiper J-3C · Va.Beach, VASep 19, 1967 · N70684 · Substantial damage NTSB DIA67D0026Accident · No injuriesClosedPiper J3C-65 · Hopewell, VAFeb 4, 1967 · N70449 · Substantial damage NTSB NYC66D0709Accident · No injuriesClosedPiper J3 · Chase City, VAMay 27, 1966 · N88685 · Substantial damage NTSB NYC66F0473Accident · No injuriesClosedPiper J3C · Chesapeake, VAJan 25, 1966 · N6443H · Substantial damage NTSB UNK64X1576Accident · No injuriesClosedPiper J3C · Stuart, VAMay 2, 1964 · N67637 · Destroyed NTSB UNK64X0793Accident · No injuriesClosedPiper J3 · Clover, VAMar 2, 1964 · N24675 · Substantial damage NTSB UNK64X0288Accident · No injuriesClosedPiper J3 · Bridgewater, VAJan 19, 1964 · N51570 · Substantial damage