Piper J3C-65 accident near Salem, Wisconsin, June 5, 2023
On June 5, 2023 at about 11:00 pm local time, a 1945 Piper J3C-65, registered N42220, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Salem, Wisconsin (Private airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing and the left main landing gear collapse.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 5, 2023 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Salem, Wisconsin · Private · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper J3C-65, built 1945 · all J3C-65s on the register
- Registration
- N42220 · registry record · serial 14470
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that she landed hard on the left main landing gear, which resulted in the landing gear collapse. The left wing contacted the ground, and the airplane spun 180°. A post- accident inspection revealed that there was substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Landing gear collapse during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: sport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 391 hours in all; 391 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 352 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,930 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 12, 2023
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-12F (piston); 2,290 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 57C East Troy WI at 10:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; a few clouds at 1,800 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 5:52 pm from KMKE, 24 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KMKE 052252Z 06011KT 10SM FEW018 SCT085 BKN250 24/19 A2998
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on August 31, 2023. 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | 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.