Piper J3C-65 accident near Opa-Locka, Florida, September 1, 1990
On September 1, 1990 at about 8:37 pm local time, a Piper J3C-65, registered N70659, was substantially damaged in an accident near Opa-Locka, Florida (Opa Locka West airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO LACK OF OIL SUPPLY TO THE NUMBER 3 CYLINDER CONNECTING ROD FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. THIS ALLOWED THE CONNECTING ROD END CAP TO SEPARATE THROUGH THE CASE RESULTING IN OIL EXHAUSTION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 1, 1990 · about 8:37 pm local time
- Place
- Opa-Locka, Florida · Opa Locka West · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper J3C-65 · all J3C-65s on the register
- Registration
- N70659 · registry record · serial 17679
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING NORMAL CRUISE FLT, THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE RPM WAS DECREASING & THE OIL TEMPERATURE WAS INCREASING. THE ENG THEN SEIZED. WITH POOR FWD VISIBILITY DUE TO OIL COVERING THE WINDSCREEN, HE OVERSHOT THE FIELD HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO LAND IN. THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A FENCE THEN NOSED OVER. EXAM OF THE ENG REVEALED THAT THE NUMBER 3 CYLINDER CONNECTING ROD END CAP SEPARATED, EXISTED THE CASE & CAME TO REST IN THE OIL SUMP. LYCOMING ENG PERSONNEL STATED THAT THE SEPARATION OF THE ROD CAP WAS DUE TO A LACK OF LUBRICATION WHICH CAUSED THE ROD BOLTS TO STRETCH, LOSING THEIR TORQUE, & ONE OF THE TWO NUTS VIBRATED OFF. THE OTHER ROD BOLT FAILED DUE TO OVERLOAD. THE ENG RECEIVED A TOP OVERHAUL 136 HRS EARLIER & A MAJOR OVERHAUL WAS PERFORMED 2,122 HRS EARLIER. NO DETERMINATION COULD BE MADE AS TO THE REASON FOR THE LACK OF LUBRICATION.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 727 hours in all; 285 in this make and model; 243 in the last 90 days; 74 in the last 30 days; 619 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 20,378 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 20, 1990; 32 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HWO Hollywood FL at 7:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 8:55 pm from OPF, 4 miles away
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.