Piper J3-65C and Cessna 182R mid-air collision near Goldsboro, North Carolina, October 5, 1986
On October 5, 1986 at about 3:35 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Piper J3-65C (N70414) and Cessna 182R (N9384X), were involved in a mid-air collision near Goldsboro, North Carolina (Goldsboro airport). 3 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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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 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 5, 1986 · about 3:35 pm local time
- Place
- Goldsboro, North Carolina · Goldsboro · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Piper J3-65C · all J3-65Cs on the register
- Registration
- N70414 · registry record · serial 17405
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 182R · all 182Rs on the register
- Registration
- N9384X · no longer on the register · serial 18268507
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Piper J3-65C final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE J-3 CUB HAD BEEN PRACTICING TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS AT THE UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT WHEN THE CESSNA 182 WAS RETURNING FROM A CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT. THE PILOT OF THE CESSNA HAD RECEIVED UNICOM AIRPORT ADVISORIES THAT INDICATED RWY 22 WAS THE ACTIVE RUNWAY. THE CUB WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A RADIO. LOCAL AIRPORT TRAFFIC POSITIONS WERE REPORTEDLY NOT DISCUSSED. AN EYEWITNESS REPORTED THAT THE CUB WAS ON A DOWNWIND POSITION FOR A LANDING ON RWY 22 WHEN HE NOTICED THE CESSNA ENTER A CROSSWIND FOR RWY 22. THE WITNESS STATED THAT THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE ACFT CONTINUED TO DECREASE. ON FINAL APPROACH TO RWY 22, THE CESSNA WAS BEHIND THE CUB WHEN THE ACFT COLLIDED AND FELL TO THE GROUND.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 182R final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE J-3 CUB HAD BEEN PRACTICING TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS AT THE UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT WHEN THE CESSNA 182 WAS RETURNING FROM A CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT. THE PILOT OF THE CESSNA HAD RECEIVED UNICOM AIRPORT ADVISORIES THAT INDICATED RWY 22 WAS THE ACTIVE RUNWAY. THE CUB WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A RADIO. LOCAL AIRPORT TRAFFIC POSITIONS WERE REPORTEDLY NOT DISCUSSED. AN EYEWITNESS REPORTED THAT THE CUB WAS ON A DOWNWIND POSITION FOR A LANDING ON RWY 22 WHEN HE NOTICED THE CESSNA ENTER A CROSSWIND FOR RWY 22. THE WITNESS STATED THAT THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE ACFT CONTINUED TO DECREASE. ON FINAL APPROACH TO RWY 22, THE CESSNA WAS BEHIND THE CUB WHEN THE ACFT COLLIDED AND FELL TO THE GROUND.
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 for the Piper J3-65C from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,675 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 2,475 as pilot in command; 1,600 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 890 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 17, 1986; 28 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,170 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A65-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GWW Goldsboro NC at 2:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 3,700 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:55 pm from GSB, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
The factual record for the Cessna 182R from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,335 hours in all; 166 in the last 90 days; 68 in the last 30 days; 7,984 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 325 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 6, 1986; 111 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470U-11 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AVL Asheville NC at 1:50 pm
- Destination: GWW Goldsboro NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 3,700 ft by 75 ft
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ATL87FA001.