Piper J3C-65 accident near York, Nebraska, June 20, 1985
On June 20, 1985, a Piper J3C-65, registered N92253, was substantially damaged in an accident near York, Nebraska (York Muni airport). It was a personal flight 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
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 20, 1985
- Place
- York, Nebraska · York Muni
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper J3C-65 · all J3C-65s on the register
- Registration
- N92253 · registry record · serial 16709
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE HAD COMPLETED A LANDING & HAD COME TO A NEAR STOP, THEN HE APPLIED POWER & WAS ON THE BRAKES FOR CONTROL. HE STATED THAT THE LEFT BRAKE LOCKED & THE ACFT WENT OFF THE RWY INTO HI WEEDS & ROUGH TERRAIN. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE DUE TO VEERING OFF THE RWY. HOWEVER, WHEN THE PLT APPLIED POWER & ATTEMPTED TO GET BACK ON THE RWY, THE ACFT PITCHED SIDEWAYS & WAS DAMAGED. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OF MALFUNCTION WAS SUBSTANTIATED.
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
- Flight time: 1,402 hours in all; 12 in this make and model; 33 in the last 90 days; 1,246 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,633 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 6, 1985; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-65 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 4,100 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 30,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 48°F (9°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.