Piper J-3 accident near Florence, Indiana, October 8, 2003
On October 8, 2003 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Piper J-3, registered N71027, was substantially damaged in an accident near Florence, Indiana. 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 pilot prematurely lifted off during the takeoff with inadequate airspeed which resulted in the airplane stalling. Factors associated with the accident were there unsuitable/rough terrain that the pilot used for takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 8, 2003 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Florence, Indiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper J-3 · all J-3s on the register
- Registration
- N71027 · registry record · serial 18046
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane stalled and impacted the terrain during takeoff from a hay field. The pilot reported that during the takeoff he encountered an area in the field where the terrain was "very rough." He stated that the airplane was "bouncing and shaking" and he wanted to get it off the ground as soon as he could. He reported that he pulled back on the stick and the airplane became airborne, but after passing over hay bales and a fence, he was unable to "keep it in the air." He reported that the right wing dropped and contacted the ground. The airplane then spun to the left and came to rest on top of another fence.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,087 hours in all; 666 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: May 14, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 2, 2003; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-65-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PVT Florence IN at 7:00 pm
- Destination: IMS Madison IN
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from LUK, 23 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.