Piper J-3C-65 accident near Richards, Texas, February 2, 1989
On February 2, 1989 at about 11:45 pm local time, a Piper J-3C-65, registered N6675H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Richards, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION IN DISREGARDING WIND INFORMATION. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE GUSTING CROSSWIND CONDITIONS AND THE PILOT'S OVERCONFIDENCE IN PERSONAL ABILITY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 2, 1989 · about 11:45 pm local time
- Place
- Richards, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper J-3C-65 · all J-3C-65s on the register
- Registration
- N6675H · no longer on the register · serial 19880
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT HAD DEPARTED HIS PRIVATE AIRSTRIP 15 MINUTES EARLIER AND WAS TURNING FINAL FOR A LANDING TO THE SOUTH WHEN THE AIRPLANE HIT FIRST A TREE AND THEN THE GROUND. THE PILOT STATED A GUST OF WIND MADE THE AIRPLANE UNCONTROLLABLE AND BLEW IT INTO THE TREE. THE PILOT ALSO STATED THE WIND WAS FROM THE WEST-SOUTHWEST AT AN ESTIMATED 18 KNOTS GUSTING TO 25 KNOTS. WEATHER LISTED ABOVE UNDER WEATHER DATA WAS OBSERVED AT COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS, 38 NM FROM THE ACCIDENT SITE.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,750 hours in all; 250 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 3,500 as pilot in command; 100 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,278 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 5, 1989; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-8F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,600 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 320° at 14 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 800 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:50 pm from CLL, 38 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.