Piper J3C-65 accident near Near Holden, Utah, November 6, 1982
On November 6, 1982 at about 6:15 pm local time, a Piper J3C-65, registered N67084, was substantially damaged in an accident near Near Holden, Utah. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. 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
- November 6, 1982 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Near Holden, Utah · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper J3C-65 · all J3C-65s on the register
- Registration
- N67084 · no longer on the register · serial 8277-13
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT AND HIS WIFE HAD FLOWN FROM SALT LAKE CITY TO HOLDEN, UT. ACCORDING TO HIS FATHER, THE PLANE CRASHED IN AN OPEN FIELD WHILE THE PILOT WAS FLYING LOW AND LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO LAND. THE PLANE CRASHED IN AN OPEN GRAIN FIELD IN ABOUT A 15 DEG NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. THE WRECKAGE REMAINED INTACT AND NO MARKS WERE FOUND TO INDICATE FORWARD MOTION. THE SEATS FAILED DOWNWARD DURING IMPACT AND THE OCCUPANTS RECEIVED SPINAL FRACTURES. THE STUDENT PILOT'S LAST DUAL INSTRUCTION WAS ON 3/28/82 AND HE WAS ENDORSED TO MAKE A CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT AT THAT TIME.
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: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 270 hours in all; 200 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,023 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 122 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-12F (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Webster-Stroud INC.
The flight
- Departed from: C Salt Lake City UT at 7:30 am
- Destination: C Holden UT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 111°F (44°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.