Piper J3C-65 accident near New Gloucester, Maine, March 19, 1993
On March 19, 1993 at about 8:43 pm local time, a Piper J3C-65, registered N25881, was substantially damaged in an accident near New Gloucester, Maine (Private Strip 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
LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DURING TAKEOFF DUE TO UNDETERMINED REASONS, AND FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 19, 1993 · about 8:43 pm local time
- Place
- New Gloucester, Maine · Private Strip
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper J3C-65 · all J3C-65s on the register
- Registration
- N25881 · no longer on the register · serial 3834
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB IMMEDIATELY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ENGINE 'QUIT COMPLETELY' AND THE 'AIRPLANE WINGS STALLED.' THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED SNOW COVERED TERRAIN ABOUT 1500 FEET FROM THE AIRSTRIP. THE PILOT DID NOT REPORT ANY MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS. AN INSPECTION OF THE WRECKAGE ALSO DID NOT REVEAL ANY MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN RELATED TO LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE AIRPLANE.
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; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 575 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 2, 1993
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-65 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 1,500 ft by 250 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 27°F (-3°C), dew point 10°F (-12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:14 pm from PWM, 30 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.