Piper J3C-65 accident near Thomaston, Georgia, June 28, 2010
On June 28, 2010 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Piper J3C-65, registered N41242, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Thomaston, Georgia (Thomaston-Upson County 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 pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 28, 2010 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Thomaston, Georgia · Thomaston-Upson County Airport · 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
- N41242 · registry record · serial 8006
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, after touching down on runway 30 in the tailwheel-equipped airplane, he “felt a gust of wind hit the airplane from the left, which pushed the tail around to the right.” The pilot also stated that he was not able to correct for the situation quickly enough, and the airplane departed the left side of the runway. The left main wheel hit a runway light, turning the airplane until its right wing impacted a runway distance remaining sign. The airplane incurred substantial damage to its right wing. An aviation routine weather report for the airport, about the time of the accident, included winds from 240 degrees true at 10 knots, with clear skies and unrestricted visibility.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 279 hours in all; 111 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 114 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 11, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,408 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 3, 2010
- Maximum gross weight: 1,170 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor A65-8F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 8GA9 Vaughn GA at 10:40 pm
- Destination: OPN Thomaston GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 6,350 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 11:00 pm from OPN
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.