Piper J-3C-115 accident near Wickenburg, Arizona, September 26, 1990
On September 26, 1990 at about 8:35 pm local time, a Piper J-3C-115, registered N49595, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wickenburg, Arizona (Wickenburg airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were 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 DIRECTIONAL CONTROL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 26, 1990 · about 8:35 pm local time
- Place
- Wickenburg, Arizona · Wickenburg
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper J-3C-115 · all J-3C-115s on the register
- Registration
- N49595 · registry record · serial G-113
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE LANDING ON RUNWAY 23 AT WICKENBURG MUNI AIRPORT, WICKENBURG, ARIZONA, THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND GROUND LOOPED. THE AIRPLANE EXITED THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN. THE PILOT DID NOT REPORT ANY MECHANICAL DIFFICULTIES AND GROUND WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE SURFACE WINDS WERE LIGHT AND VARIABLE.
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
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-65 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Genesis Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: RYN Tucson AZ at 5:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 5,050 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°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.