Piper J3C accident near Vine Grove, Kentucky, June 23, 2019
On June 23, 2019 at about 10:45 pm local time, a 1946 Piper J3C, registered N70803, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach near Vine Grove, Kentucky (Vine Grove airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain a proper visual lookout during the approach, which resulted in inadequate clearance from a tree.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 23, 2019 · about 10:45 pm local time · cases in 2019
- Place
- Vine Grove, Kentucky · Vine Grove · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper J3C 65, built 1946 · all J3Cs on the register
- Registration
- N70803 · no longer on the register · serial 17821
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot and a passenger departed in a tailwheel airplane on a local flight with the pilot flying the airplane from the rear seat. The pilot reported that there were no airplane mechanical malfunctions through final approach to the airport, which was the pilot’s last recollection. The passenger did not recall the engine making any unusual sounds or any anomalies in the airplane's maneuverability during the flight. During the approach, the airplane had a nose-up pitch attitude, and a witness heard and observed the airplane flying low on the approach path to the airport. The passenger saw a tree and shouted to the pilot, then the airplane hit the tree, flew through it, and crashed. Postaccident examination of the airplane and the airplane's engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. A review of the temperature and dew point about the time of the accident revealed that the airplane was operated in the moderate carburetor icing range at cruise power or serious carburetor icing range at descent power. However, based on the passenger's and witnesses' observations of no anomalies with the engine and that the airplane was flying low, it is likely that the pilot did not maintain sufficient visual lookout during the approach and impacted the tree.
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
- Collision during takeoff/land during approach defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Identification/recognition › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Contributed to outcome
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Awareness of condition
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 909 hours in all; 230 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 795 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 6, 2019
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: rear
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,047.8 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 15, 2018
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-65-8F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 70KY Vine Grove KY at 9:00 pm
- Destination: 70KY Vine Grove KY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 2,700 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observation at 9:56 pm from KFTK, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 20 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photo 1 – View of chordwise abrasion on a propeller blade.
Photo 2 - View of the data plate.
Photo 3 - View of the engine primer.
Photo 4 - View of the carb heat selector. The selector is in the OFF position.
Photo 5 - View of the cockpit and instrument panel.
Photo 6 - View of the left side of the engine.
Photo 7 - View of the right side of the engine.
Photo 8 - View of a side of the carburetor.
Photo 9 - View of a side of the carburetor.
Photo 10 - Close-up view of the carburetor heat linkage.
Photo 11 - Close-up view of the No. 1 and 3 cylinders with their covers removed.
Photo 12 - Close-up view of the No. 2 and 4 cylinders with their covers removed.
Photo 13 - Close-up view of removed sparkplugs.
Photo 14 - Close-up view of removed sparkplugs.
Photo 15 - View of the oil screen cavity.
Photo 16 - View of the oil screen.
Photo 17 - View of the fuel screen.
Photo 18 - View of the removed fuel screen.
Photo 19 - View of the separated section of the carburetor venturi and butterfly throttle valve.
Photo 20 - View of the bent crankshaft and propeller flange.The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
11 documents, released by the NTSB on November 22, 2019. 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 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Witness Statements - Passenger | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Witness Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | FAA Inspector's Statement - Communication Summary - S. Travis, Lou Fsdo | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Photos | PDF, 20 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 6 | Maintenance Records - Logbook Excerpts | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Weather Reports and Records | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Other Pertinent Forms and Reports - Icing Chart | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 9 | Miscellaneous Information - Airport Master Record 70KY | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 10 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 11 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | 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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N70803: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Piper J-3 Cub 3,804 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Piper 44,842 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Continental A-65-8F 24 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Vine Grove Airport · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Kentucky 702 since 1982 · 111 in the last ten years
- Kentucky 2,980 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CEN19LA184.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.