Piper J-3 accident near Parker, Colorado, May 27, 2010
On May 27, 2010 at about 9:50 pm local time, a Piper J-3, registered N8688, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Parker, Colorado (Everitt Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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's failure to maintain control of the airplane while landing in gusting winds.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 27, 2010 · about 9:50 pm local time
- Place
- Parker, Colorado · Everitt Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper J-3 · all J-3s on the register
- Registration
- N8688 · registry record · serial 5245
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot and her husband, who was also a private pilot, were attempting to land their single-engine airplane at a private grass strip in gusting wind conditions. The husband, who was flying the airplane, made an approach to runway 18, but elected to go around. While climbing out, a gust of wind caught the right wing and tipped the airplane up. The pilot was unable to maintain altitude and the right wing struck an embankment and the landing gear broke off. Both pilots reported that there were no premishap mechanical deficiencies. The wind at the time of the accident was reported to be out of the south at 17 knots, gusting to 25 knots.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control in flight during initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Response/compensation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 525 hours in all; 525 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3
Other crew
- Certificate: private
- Medical certificate: None
The aircraft
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor C85 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LAA Lamar CO
- Destination: 1C08 Parker CO
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 18
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 17 knots, gusting 25
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
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.