Piper J-3 accident near Youngstown, Ohio, August 27, 1988
On August 27, 1988 at about 4:40 pm local time, a Piper J-3, registered N38346, was substantially damaged in an accident near Youngstown, Ohio (Lansdowne airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 27, 1988 · about 4:40 pm local time
- Place
- Youngstown, Ohio · Lansdowne · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper J-3 · all J-3s on the register
- Registration
- N38346 · registry record · serial 6954
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH TO THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE, AND THE PILOT WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED WHEN THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND APPROXIMATELY 25' SHORT OF THE APPROACH END OF THE RUNWAY AND NOSED DOWN. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT'S WIFE, THE PILOT HAS NO RECOLLECTION OF THE ACCIDENT OR EVENTS PRECEDING THE ACCIDENT DUE TO THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE HEAD INJURIES HE RECEIVED. THE POLICE REPORT STATED THAT THERE WAS NO FUEL IN THE TANK, OR ON THE GROUND AROUND THE AIRCRAFT, AND THAT 'PROPELLER (BLADES) NOT BENT, APPEARS ENGINE NOT RUNNING AT TIME OF CRASH.'
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
- Flight time: 1,300 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model; 1,300 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,722 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 5, 1988; 51 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-65-8F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Vienna OH at 3:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 20, 3,027 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from YNG, 8 miles away
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.
Other NTSB records under N38346 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.