Piper J3 accident near Buckeye, Arizona, April 3, 1993
On April 3, 1993 at about 11:45 pm local time, a Piper J3, registered N30503, was substantially damaged in an accident near Buckeye, Arizona (Private airport). It was an instructional 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 INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOK-OUT AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM THE WIRES. LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THE GEOGRAPHICAL (AIRPORT) AREA WAS A FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 3, 1993 · about 11:45 pm local time
- Place
- Buckeye, Arizona · Private · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper J3 · all J3s on the register
- Registration
- N30503 · no longer on the register · serial 4880
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE NONCERTIFICATED SOLO STUDENT PILOT WAS LANDING AT AN UNFAMILIAR AIRPORT. WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH, THE STUDENT PILOT FAILED TO SEE THE WIRES THAT TRAVERSED THE FINAL APPROACH COURSE. THE AIRPLANE'S VERTICAL STABILIZER STRUCK THE WIRES.
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: student
- Flight time: 48 hours in all; 33 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 32 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Rainbow Valley AZ at 9:30 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.