Piper J3C-65 accident near Monte Vista, Colorado, December 12, 2004
On December 12, 2004 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Piper J3C-65, registered N23375, was substantially damaged in an accident near Monte Vista, Colorado (Na airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed which resulted in a stall during low level flight.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 12, 2004 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Monte Vista, Colorado · Na · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper J3C-65 · all J3C-65s on the register
- Registration
- N23375 · no longer on the register · serial 3121
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was flying over his parents' house at approximately 500 feet. Several witnesses saw the airplane pitch up and another witness stated that the airplane "stalled off to the left wing." The airplane nosed over and spiraled down. One witness stated that at approximately 50 feet agl, the airplane appeared to "pull out"; however, the airplane impacted the ground in a 45 degree nose down attitude. The airplane bounced and came to rest approximately 130 feet from the initial impact point. The airplane was substantially damaged. A post-accident examination of the airplane's systems revealed no anomalies.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,000 hours in all; 90 in this make and model; 7,300 as pilot in command; 1,018 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 3, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,065 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 24, 2004; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,130 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 8V1 Del Norte CO at 7:25 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.25 inHg
- Observation at 7:52 pm from ALS, 29 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.