Piper J3L-65 accident near Sevierville, Tennessee, February 16, 1986
On February 16, 1986 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Piper J3L-65, registered N30233, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sevierville, Tennessee (Pigion Forge airport). It was an instructional 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
- February 16, 1986 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Sevierville, Tennessee · Pigion Forge · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper J3L-65 · all J3L-65s on the register
- Registration
- N30233 · no longer on the register · serial 4713
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING TAKEOFF INITIAL CLIMB THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND A FORCED LANDING WAS INITIATED. DURING THE DESCENT THE AIRCRAFT CONTACTED TREETOPS PRIOR TO GROUND IMPACT. POST-CRASH EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE DISCLOSED THAT ONE OF THE CYLINDERS HAD BROKEN AWAY FROM THE CRANKCASE. THE ENGINE WAS PLACED INTO SERVICE IN THE YEAR 1940 AND THE TOTAL TIME ON THE ENGINE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED.
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: flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,690 hours in all; 15 in this make and model; 175 in the last 90 days; 1,565 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,112 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 9, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-145B SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3A9 Sevierville TN at 5:22 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.
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.