Piper J-3-C65 accident near Belzoni, Mississippi, December 26, 1995
On December 26, 1995 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Piper J-3-C65, registered N3615K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Belzoni, Mississippi. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
failure of the student pilot to maintain adequate airspeed, while maneuvering, which resulted in a stall/spin and subsequent collision with the ground.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 26, 1995 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Belzoni, Mississippi · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper J-3-C65 · all J-3-C65s on the register
- Registration
- N3615K · registry record · serial 22305
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A witness saw the airplane as it was maneuvering in the vicinity of the accident site. The airplane was then observed to enter a spin and disappear behind trees, where it impacted in a plowed field. Examination of the airplane failed to disclose a mechanical problem. There was evidence that the airplane impacted the ground in a stalled attitude. Both wing assemblies sustained aft crushing damage to the leading edges. The student pilot's medical certificate was dated 8/11/93. No pilot flight logs were recovered for examination.
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: student
- Flight time: 200 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-12 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Isola MS at 8:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Temperature: 41°F (5°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:51 pm from GWO, 30 miles away
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.
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.