Piper J3 accident near Wauseon, Ohio, May 4, 1986
On May 4, 1986 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Piper J3, registered N40782, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wauseon, Ohio (Exit 3 airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. 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
- May 4, 1986 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Wauseon, Ohio · Exit 3 · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper J3 · all J3s on the register
- Registration
- N40782 · registry record · serial 7496
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE WAS LANDING ON RWY 27 WITH THE WIND FROM ABOUT 190 DEGREES AT 15 MPH, GUSTING TO 23 MPH; HE EXECUTED A NORMAL LDG AND WAS ROLLING OUT WHEN A GUST OF WIND LIFTED UP THE LEFT WING AND THE ACFT GROUND-LOOPED. THE ACFT SUBSEQUENTLY FLIPPED OVER INVERTED. THE PLT STATED THAT THE ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED HAD HE WAITED FOR MORE FAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS.
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: 176 hours in all; 98 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 123 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,644 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 16, 1985; 60 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-65-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OG6 Bryan OH at 4:40 pm
- Destination: 6D4 Wauseon OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,700 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 14 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:45 pm from TOL, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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 N40782 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.