Piper J3C accident near Cypress, Texas, May 21, 2011
On May 21, 2011 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Piper J3C, registered N55754, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Cypress, Texas (Dry Creek Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power due to carburetor ice.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 21, 2011 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Cypress, Texas · Dry Creek Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper J3C 65 · all J3Cs on the register
- Registration
- N55754 · registry record · serial 10118
- 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, the airplane stopped climbing during the initial climb, and began losing power. The pilot made an off-airport forced landing in a large yard behind a residence. During the landing roll, the airplane struck a fence and several trees, and came to rest upright. No preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures were found that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot did not report using carburetor heat after engine start, during taxi, or during takeoff. According to a carburetor icing probability chart, an airplane operating in the ambient conditions at the time of the accident could expect a serious risk of carburetor icing while at glide power and a risk of icing at cruise power. Engine operations at low power settings during ground operations are similar to that of operations at glide power, making it likely the carburetor built up icing prior to takeoff. The airplane’s engine most likely experienced carburetor icing which resulted in the loss of engine power.
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 engine power (partial) during initial climb defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › Conducive to carburetor icing › Contributed to outcome
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,244 hours in all; 57 in this make and model; 39 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 2,125 as pilot in command; 130 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 22, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
Other crew
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,323 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 16, 2010; 77 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-75-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TS07 Cypress TX at 5:00 pm
- Destination: 27XS Brookshire TX
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,400 ft; scat at 3,800 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from KDWH, 8 miles away
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.