Piper J3C-65 accident near Mount Victory, Ohio, June 17, 2020
On June 17, 2020 at about 2:45 pm local time, a 1939 Piper J3C-65, registered N25702, was substantially damaged in an accident during standing (engine(s) start-up) near Mount Victory, Ohio (Elliotts Landing airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate planning, and his failure to secure the airplane prior to hand-starting the engine.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 17, 2020 · about 2:45 pm local time
- Place
- Mount Victory, Ohio · Elliotts Landing · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper J3C-65, built 1939 · all J3C-65s on the register
- Registration
- N25702 · registry record · serial 3666
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that he hand-started the engine by turning the propeller from behind. The airplane was not chocked, but the pilot stated he had "moved the tail wheel sideways." The engine started immediately, and the airplane collided with a utility pole, causing leading edge damage to both wings.
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
- Ground handling event during standing (engine(s) start-up)
- Loss of control on ground during standing (engine(s) start-up) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- factor Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › (general) › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,664 hours in all; 45.5 in this make and model
- Last flight review: November 17, 2019
- Medical certificate: BasicMed
- Seat: none
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,880 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 6, 2020; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-65 (piston); 1,880 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 074 Mount Victory OH
- Destination: O74 Mount Victory OH
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.23 inHg
- Observation at 2:40 pm from EDJ, 17 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on September 10, 2020. 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's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 2 | FAA Inspector's E-mails | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Googleearthmap of Accident Site | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Accident Report Photographs | PDF, 6 pages | 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.