Piper J3C-65 accident near Crestview, Florida, April 10, 2026
On April 10, 2026 at about 10:00 pm local time, a 1946 Piper J3C-65, registered N92480, was substantially damaged in an accident near Crestview, Florida (Long Branch Farms airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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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 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 10, 2026 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Crestview, Florida · Long Branch Farms · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper J3C-65, built 1946 · all J3C-65s on the register
- Registration
- N92480 · registry record · serial 16950
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On April 10, 2026, about 1700 eastern daylight time, a Piper J3C-65, N92480 was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Baker, Florida. The pilot sustained minor injuries, and the passenger was seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot stated that before the first flight, he performed a preflight inspection and added .5 quart of oil to bring the quantity to about 3.5 quarts. He then taxied to the fuel pump and topped off the fuel with about 9 gallons of 100LL aviation fuel. According to the Piper J3C-65 owner’s manual, the fuel tank capacity is 12 US gallons. The pilot departed Skypark Estates Owners Assoc Airport (18FD) in Baker, Florida, about 1600 and flew for about 35 minutes to perform local pattern work. He subsequently landed and parked the airplane, remaining on the ground for about 30 minutes, before performing a preflight inspection with no anomalies noted. About 1700 the pilot departed with a passenger seated in the front seat. After takeoff, the airplane climbed to about 1,500 ft above ground level (agl) and proceeded to Long Branch Farms Airport (2FA3) in Baker, Florida, a flight of about 10 minutes. Upon arrival at 2FA3, the pilot descended to 1,000 ft agl with a slight reduction in power and crossed mid-field to enter the airport traffic pattern on a left downwind leg for runway 27. Carburetor heat was turned on, and engine power was reduced to about 1,500 rpm during the descent on the base and final legs of the pattern. On short final, carburetor heat was turned off, and the engine was advanced to cruise power as the airplane leveled off at about 50 ft agl to conduct a low approach to inspect runway conditions. Following the low approach, the pilot applied full power for a normal climb at about 60 mph. About 200 ft agl the engine lost all power. The pilot confirmed the throttle lever was full forward, lowered the nose, and turned toward a field, attempting to fly through a small gap in the trees near its edge. The pilot observed power lines crossing the field and tightened the turn to avoid them. The right wing contacted a tree, which resulted in a significant yaw to the right and a decrease in airspeed. The airplane then yawed back to a forward direction and impacted the ground at a steep downward angle. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. The wreckage was retained for further examination.
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
- 402341 during 402
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,508 hours
- Last inspection: type not recorded, March 13, 2026; 0.7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Operating certificate: in the vicinity
The flight
- Departed from: 18FD Baker FL at 10:00 pm
- Destination: 18FD Baker FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,300 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°C, dew point 46°C
- Altimeter: 30.24 inHg
- Observation at 5:00 pm from CEW, 8 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KCEW 102153Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 27/08 A3024 RMK AO2 SLP236 T02720083
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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 ERA26LA168.