Piper J3C-65 accident near Claremore, Oklahoma, May 2, 1999
On May 2, 1999, a Piper J3C-65, registered N3732C, was destroyed in an accident near Claremore, Oklahoma (Sam Riggs Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain minimum airspeed for flight while maneuvering, which resulted in an inadvertent stall.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 2, 1999
- Place
- Claremore, Oklahoma · Sam Riggs Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper J3C-65 · all J3C-65s on the register
- Registration
- N3732C · no longer on the register · serial 13603
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot rated passenger (PRP) was flying the airplane from the rear seat, and was on final approach to land to the north at a grass strip. The PRP turned the airplane to the northeast when he observed an ultralight departing the grass strip to the south. At that point the commercial pilot in the front seat took control of the airplane and pitched the airplane's 'nose up to climb a little and reduce speed.' He was turning the airplane left from downwind to base when the airplane's 'nose pitched down sharply and impacted the ground.' The pilot reported that as the airplane turned, the 'engine died,' and he continued turning toward an open area. Examination of the wreckage revealed that one propeller blade 'exhibited evidence of power.' There were also deep gouges in the ground that 'appear to be propeller slashes.' Continuity was established to all flight controls. The PRP stated that 'he did not observe any problems with the aircraft or engine performance.'
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: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 443 hours in all; 19 in this make and model; 38 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 365 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,327 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 19, 1999; 105 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental M-A-65-8 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: K11 at 11:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 1,550 ft by 110 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 270° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.