Smith, Ted Aerostar STP1 and Piper J3C 65 accident near Quinton, Virginia, May 26, 1991
On May 26, 1991 at about 3:45 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Smith, Ted Aerostar STP1 (N949Z) and Piper J3C 65 (N38272), were involved in the same accident near Quinton, Virginia (New Kent County airport). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT OF THE OTHER AIRCRAFT FAILED TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE CLEARANCE.
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE CLEARANCE FROM A MOVING AIRCRAFT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 26, 1991 · about 3:45 pm local time
- Place
- Quinton, Virginia · New Kent County · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Smith, Ted Aerostar STP1
- Registration
- N949Z · registry record · serial 1ST64
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Piper J3C 65 · all J3C 65s on the register
- Registration
- N38272 · registry record · serial 6898
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Smith, Ted Aerostar STP1 final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS TAXIING ON THE RAMP HEADED TOWARD THE PARALLEL TAXIWAY FOR RUNWAY 28, WHEN HIS AIRPLANE WAS STRUCK IN THE REAR BY ANOTHER MOVING AIRPLANE. THE PILOT STATED HE DID NOT SEE THE AIRPLANE BEFORE IMPACT.
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 Piper J3C 65 final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS TAXIING IN THE RAMP AREA HEADED TOWARD THE PARALLEL TAXIWAY FOR RUNWAY 28 WHEN HE STRUCK THE REAR OF ANOTHER MOVING AIRPLANE, A SMITH STP1 BIPLANE. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE DID NOT SEE THE AIRPLANE BEFORE THE IMPACT. THE RIGHT WING STRUT STRUCK THE OTHER AIRPLANE'S RUDDER AND THEN ITS AFT SECTION WITH THE PROPELLER.
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 Smith, Ted Aerostar STP1 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 750 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O 290 D2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: W96
- Destination: W96
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 3,600 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:45 am
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Piper J3C 65 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,600 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A65 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: W96
- Destination: W96
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 3,600 ft by 75 ft
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.