Piper J3C accident near Brenham, Texas, January 30, 2017
On January 30, 2017 at about 9:48 pm local time, a Piper J3C, registered N7039H, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Brenham, Texas (Brenham Muni 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 reciprocating engine's exhaust valve being stuck in the “open” position, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power during initial climb.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 30, 2017 · about 9:48 pm local time
- Place
- Brenham, Texas · Brenham Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper J3C · all J3Cs on the register
- Registration
- N7039H · no longer on the register · serial 4601
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot and flight instructor were conducting a personal flight. The flight instructor reported that the pretakeoff checks were "normal" but that, during the takeoff, the engine felt "weak" and that the engine lost power during the initial climb. The flight instructor conducted a forced landing to a field, during which the airplane impacted the top of a tree and then the ground. Examination of the airplane revealed that the exhaust valve for the No. 4 cylinder was stuck in the "open" position possibly due to excessive deposits from the combustion process. It is likely that the stuck exhaust valve resulted in the partial loss of engine power reported by the flight instructor.
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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip engine power section › Not specified
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Contributed to outcome
Flight instructor
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,749 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 4, 2016; 27 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor A75-8F(C)8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 11R Brenham TX
- Destination: Waco TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 6,003 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.18 inHg
- Observation at 7:35 pm from 11R
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on June 15, 2017. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Flight Instructor's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 2 | Photographs Provided by FAA | PDF, 8 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Maintenance Record Excerpts | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Record of Conversation with FAA Inspector | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.