Piper J3C-65 accident near Waterford, Virginia, November 6, 1984
On November 6, 1984 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Piper J3C-65, registered N70645, was destroyed in an accident near Waterford, Virginia (Carr Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. 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
- November 6, 1984 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Waterford, Virginia · Carr Field
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper J3C-65 · all J3C-65s on the register
- Registration
- N70645 · no longer on the register · serial 17663
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED FLYING AROUND THE AIRSTRIP AT DUSK. AS IT PASSED OVER THE APRX CENTER OF THE FIELD IT WAS SEEN TO NOSE OVER INTO A STEEP ANGLE CONTINUING UNTIL IMPACT. INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF ANY MAL FUNTION OF THE AIRCRAFT OR THE ENGINE. FURTHER INVESTIGATION INTO THE PILOTS BACKGROUND UNCOVERED THAT HE WAS GOING THROUGH DIVORCE PROCEEDINGS TO INCLUDE A CUSTODY PROBLEM WITH TWO CHILDREN. IN ADDITION A NOTE WAS FOUND IN THE POCKET OF THE PILOT INDICATING THE TERMINATION OF A RELATIONSHIP IMMEDIATELY PROCEEDING THE FATAL FLIGHT. THE PILOT HAD OBTAINED PRIOR PERMISSION TO FLY 1 OF THE 2 J3 CUBS BASED AT THE FIELD, HOWEVER, THE AIRCRAFT INVOLVED IN THE ACCIDENT WAS NOT THE ONE. N70645 WAS OWNED BY A PILOT WHO ADMITTED TO BEING 'REAL GOOD FRIENDS' WITH THE VICTIMS WIFE.
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, commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,200 hours in all; 1,010 as pilot in command; 342 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 27, 1984
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-65-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Waterford VA at 10:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 1,500 ft by 45 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 350° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:50 pm from IAD, 15 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.