Piper J-3C accident near Buckhead, Georgia, July 18, 2010
On July 18, 2010 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Piper J-3C, registered N98342, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR go-around) near Buckhead, Georgia (Private 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
An in-flight encounter with a downdraft during a go-around, resulting in a collision with trees and the ground.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 18, 2010 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Buckhead, Georgia · Private · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper J-3C · all J-3Cs on the register
- Registration
- N98342 · no longer on the register · serial 18513
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that he departed from his private airstrip on a local area flight. He observed thunderstorms approaching the area and the winds were increasing, so he returned to the airstrip for landing. On final approach, he noticed that some children had left a gate open and his miniature donkeys were crossing the runway. He added power to go around, but the airplane would not climb. The airplane encountered a downdraft and collided vertically with trees and the ground. Examination of the airframe, flight controls and engine assembly and accessories revealed no anomalies. Weather radar data indicated that the area overhead the accident site was associated with dissipating echoes, which were decreasing in area coverage and in intensity with time, and implied a dissipating rain shower that would be typical of prevailing downdraft activity.
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
- Other weather encounter during approach (VFR go-around)
- Collision during takeoff/land during approach (VFR go-around) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Downdraft › Contributed to outcome
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Contributed to outcome
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Aircraft capability › Climb capability › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,000 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 70 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 1,500 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 5, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,591 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 27, 2010; 100 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-65-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Buckhead GA at 9:15 pm
- Destination: Buckhead GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,500 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,600 ft; scat at 2,200 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 8:00 pm from 3J7, 13 miles away
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.