Piper J3C-65 accident near Claremore, Oklahoma, May 25, 1991
On May 25, 1991 at about 4:15 pm local time, a Piper J3C-65, registered N3609K, was destroyed in an accident near Claremore, Oklahoma. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT (PIC) DID NOT MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM OBSTACLES DURING THE MANEUVER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 25, 1991 · about 4:15 pm local time
- Place
- Claremore, Oklahoma · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper J3C-65 · all J3C-65s on the register
- Registration
- N3609K · registry record · serial 22299
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT AND DUAL STUDENT WERE PRACTICING TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS FOR THE SPANISH FOREIGN NATIONAL'S TAIL-DRAGGER TRANSITION PRIOR TO STARTING AGRICULTURAL SPRAY SCHOOL. THEY DEPARTED THE AIRPORT AND WERE OBSERVED TO BE MANEUVERING AT LOW LEVEL APPROXIMATELY THREE STATUTE MILES TO THE SOUTHEAST. THE AIRCRAFT'S RIGHT WING LEADING EDGE STRUCK THE UPPER BRANCHES OF A 35 FOOT HIGH PECAN TREE. PORTIONS OF THE RIGHT WING AND TREE BRANCHES WERE LOCATED BELOW THE TREE AND ALONG THE FLIGHT PATH. THE FUEL TANK RUPTURED UPON GROUND IMPACT AND A POST-IMPACT FIRE CONSUMED THE AIRCRAFT. NO PRE-IMPACT MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS TO THE AIRFRAME OR THE POWERPLANT WERE FOUND.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,750 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,446 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 23, 1991; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-65-8 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N3609K the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.