Piper J3C-65 accident near Wilmot, Wisconsin, May 14, 2003
On May 14, 2003, a Piper J3C-65, registered N70971, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wilmot, Wisconsin (Westosha 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 loss of engine power for an undetermined reason, and the unsuitable terrain encountered for the forced landing. A factor was the fence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 14, 2003
- Place
- Wilmot, Wisconsin · Westosha · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper J3C-65 · all J3C-65s on the register
- Registration
- N70971 · registry record · serial 18001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was damaged when it struck a barbed wire fence during a forced landing following a loss of engine power during a go-around. The pilot reported that the engine lost power during the climb-out and he set up for a forced landing. The engine subsequently began producing power again and the pilot attempted to return to the airport. The engine again stopped producing power and a forced landing was executed during which a barbed wire fence was struck causing the airplane to nose over. No anomalies were found with respect to the airplane. Evidence indicating the presence of fuel was found at the accident site.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 865 hours in all; 49 in this make and model; 66 in the last 90 days; 26 in the last 30 days; 789 as pilot in command; 161 on instruments
- Last flight review: September 25, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,536 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 24, 2002; 6 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: PWK Wheeling IL at 11:30 pm
- Destination: 5K6 Wilmot WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 3, 2,849 ft by 38 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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.