Piper J-3C-65 accident near Sulphur, Louisiana, April 25, 1985
On April 25, 1985 at about 2:00 pm local time, a Piper J-3C-65, registered N3475K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sulphur, Louisiana. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- April 25, 1985 · about 2:00 pm local time
- Place
- Sulphur, Louisiana
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper J-3C-65 · all J-3C-65s on the register
- Registration
- N3475K · registry record · serial 22169
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED HE HAD TAKEN OFF TO THE SOUTH INTO THE WIND. HE MADE A TURN TO THE WEST TO CLEAR TREES. AT ABOUT 150 FEET THE AIRCRAFTS CLIMB ABILITY DETERIORATED SO HE TURNED BACK INTO THE WIND BUT THE NOSE DROPPED STALLED AND THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED A SPIN. THE PILOT TRIED TO RECOVER BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL WITH THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTING IN A PLOWED FIELD.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 133 hours in all; 39 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 93 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 544 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 30, 1984
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-65 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: Orange County TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 6 knots, gusting 8
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,000 ft; scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.