Piper J3C-65 accident near Waller, Texas, July 22, 1994
On July 22, 1994 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Piper J3C-65, registered N70580, was substantially damaged in an accident near Waller, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER CLEARANCE DURING TAKEOFF.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 22, 1994 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Waller, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper J3C-65 · all J3C-65s on the register
- Registration
- N70580 · registry record · serial 17589
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE DEMONSTRATING A SPIN MANUEVER DURING AN INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. RESTART WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL AND A FORCED LANDING WAS EXECUTED TO A HORSE TRACK. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND NO DAMAGE TO THE AIRPLANE. THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT HAD THE PILOT RECEIVING INSTRUCTION DISEMBARK THE AIRPLANE AND THEN BEGAN TO TAKE OFF. AFTER BECOMING AIRBORNE THE RIGHT STABILIZER STRUCK A FENCE. THE AIRPLANE THEN PITCHED UP AND ROLLED LEFT, COMING TO REST ON AN ADJACENT ROAD.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 7,086 hours in all; 60 in this make and model; 238 in the last 90 days; 90 in the last 30 days; 3,211 as pilot in command; 84 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 2, 1994
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.