Piper J3C-65 accident near Apex, North Carolina, May 1, 2024
On May 1, 2024 at about 8:40 pm local time, a 1946 Piper J3C-65, registered N6872H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Apex, North Carolina (Cox Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of directional control during the landing roll for reasons that could not be determined, due to impact damage sustained to the brake system.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 1, 2024 · about 8:40 pm local time
- Place
- Apex, North Carolina · Cox Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper J3C-65 NO SERIES, built 1946 · all J3C-65s on the register
- Registration
- N6872H · registry record · serial 20089
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor reported that after conducting maneuvers in the area for about 30 minutes, he returned to the airport to demonstrate the first landing of the flight. He reported that upon touchdown on the grass runway, the brakes “were not effective” and the airplane veered off the runway to the left into a utility trailer that was parked near the runway. The fuselage sustained substantial damage. The private pilot receiving instruction, seated in the rear seat, reported that the approach and landing appeared normal, and the flight instructor completed a 3-point landing. He recalled that the flight instructor was unable to get the airplane to stop, and he believed the brakes were not effective given they had “plenty of runway to stop.” A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane and brake system. The left wheel was rotated, and the left brake pedal when actuated, was observed to stop the wheel movement. The right brake pedal was bound and no longer fully functional due to impact related damage. Its actuator plunger was manipulated via a screwdriver, and right wheel movement was stopped, but not with the same amount of force as compared to the functional left brake pedal. The brake system’s fluid was normal. Neither pilot reported any issues with the brakes prior to takeoff. The effectiveness of the brake system could not be determined, due to the damage sustained to the right brake pedal during the impact with the trailer.
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
- 552470 during descent - emergency
- 552230 during descent - emergency
The NTSB's findings
- Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, ASE, IAIR, APLN, none
- Flight time: 11,262 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 56 in the last 90 days; 26 in the last 30 days; 9,878 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 22, 2024
- Medical certificate: class 1
- Injury: minor injuries
Pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land, none, APLN, none
- Flight time: 521 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 422 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 16, 2022
- Medical certificate: class 3
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,735 hours
- Last inspection: type not recorded, March 26, 2024; 41 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,280 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental Motors A-65-8 (piston); 3,735 hours total
- Operating certificate: in the vicinity
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,450 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°C, dew point 57°C
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 4:51 pm from RDU, 9 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KRDU 012051Z VRB04KT 10SM FEW050TCU SCT100 29/14 A2992 RMK AO2 SLP127 TCU SE T02890144 58011 VISNO RWY 23R=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ERA24LA213.