Piper J3C-65 accident near Whitsett, North Carolina, June 28, 1988
On June 28, 1988 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Piper J3C-65, registered N2875Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Whitsett, North Carolina (Meadowlark Gliderport airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person 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
- June 28, 1988 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Whitsett, North Carolina · Meadowlark Gliderport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper J3C-65 · all J3C-65s on the register
- Registration
- N2875Y · registry record · serial 22384
- 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 THE ENGINE LOST POWER DURING INITIAL CLIMB AT 150 FT AGL. HE ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A 180 DEG TURN BACK TO THE ARPT; THE AIRPLANE CRASHED AT ABOUT THE 180 DEG POINT. POST-CRASH EXAM OF THE ENGINE REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL CONTAMINATION WAS FOUND. THE OPERATOR REPORTED THAT THE ACFT WAS STC'D FOR AUTOGAS & WAS FUELED W/ A 50/50 MIX OF AVGAS AND AUTOGAS. HE NOTED THAT HE HAD ADVISED THE PLT JUST PRIOR TO DEPARTURE THAT THE ENGINE WAS PRONE TO CARB ICE AND THAT CONDITIONS WERE FAVORABLE FOR CARB ICE FORMATION. HE SUBSEQUENTLY OBSERVED THAT THE PLT ALLOWED THE ENGINE TO IDLE FOR SEVERAL MINUTES PRIOR TO BEGINNING THE T/O ROLL. EXAM OF ICING PROBABILITY CURVES REVEALED THAT REPORTED WX CONDITIONS WERE FAVORABLE FOR SERIOUS ICING AT GLIDE PWR SETTINGS. FAA ADVISORY CIRCULAR 91-33A NOTES THAT FAA TESTING HAS INDICATED THAT CARB ICE WILL OCCUR FASTER AND AT HIGHER TEMPS W/ AUTOGAS THAN AVGAS.
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; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 320 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-65-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,000 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 pm from GSO
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.
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.