Wag-Aero, Inc. CUBBIE (J-3) accident near Stockbridge, Georgia, July 16, 1985
On July 16, 1985 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Wag-Aero, Inc. CUBBIE (J-3), an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N909GH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Stockbridge, Georgia (Berry Hill airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 16, 1985 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Stockbridge, Georgia · Berry Hill · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Wag-Aero, Inc. CUBBIE (J-3) CUBBIE (J-, amateur-built
- Registration
- N909GH · no longer on the register · serial 1077
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A DEPARTURE, THE ENG HAD A PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER. THE PLT REPORTED THAT AFTER CLIMBING TO ABOUT 75 FT, NEITHER THE ACFT'S SPEED NOR ALT WOULD INCREASE. HE LOWERED THE NOSE TO INCREASE THE ENG RPM & SPEED, BUT THE ENG DID NOT RESPOND. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE LEFT WING HIT A TREE & THE ACFT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER TREE & THE GROUND. THE PLT STATED THAT DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, THE ACFT HAD NOT ACCELERATED TO ITS TAKEOFF SPEED AT THE MIDPOINT OF THE 3000 FT RWY, YET HE CONTINUED THE TAKEOFF ROLL. AN EXAM REVEALED THAT THE COMPRESSION RING ON THE #1 PISTON WAS FROZEN IN COMPRESSION. NO OTHER PRE-ACCIDENT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 949 hours in all; 150 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 130 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 8, 1984; 62 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-65 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 3,000 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N909GH the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.