Piper J3C-65 accident near Zellwood, Florida, July 4, 1998
On July 4, 1998 at about 3:35 pm local time, a Piper J3C-65, registered N42760, was substantially damaged in an accident near Zellwood, Florida (Bob White Field). 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 loss of engine power for undetermined reasons which led to a forced landing and nose over. A factor affecting the severity of the damage was the soft terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 4, 1998 · about 3:35 pm local time
- Place
- Zellwood, Florida · Bob White Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper J3C-65 · all J3C-65s on the register
- Registration
- N42760 · registry record · serial 15069
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, he was conducting touch and go landings at the Bob White Field. Just prior to turning crosswind on the fourth departure, the engine lost power. The pilot applied carburetor heat and full throttle, but the engine continued to lose power until it quit. A forced landing was made in a farm field. The wheels sank into the soft ground, and the airplane nosed over. After the accident, the engine and fuel were tested. The engine started, ran at a low revolutions per minute (RPM), and was able to produce maximum RPM. The magnetos were checked while the engine was operating, with no discrepancies noted. According to the FAA inspector, there was no problem with the operation of the engine during the test run. There was fuel in the airplane, approximately 3/4 of a tank. It was drained and examined, with no water or sediment found.
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: 831 hours in all; 159 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 793 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,662 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-12 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: X61 at 2:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 3,300 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,600 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from ORL, 20 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.
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.