Piper J3C-65 accident near Goodman, Missouri, September 13, 1988
On September 13, 1988, a Piper J3C-65, registered N3533N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Goodman, Missouri. 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
ENGINE IGNITION AND LUBRICATION PROBLEMS WHICH RESULTED IN THE PILOT'S ELECTION TO EXECUTE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS THE PILOT'S INABILITY TO SEE AND AVOID POWER LINES IN HIS APPROACH PATH DUE TO BRIGHT SUNSHINE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 13, 1988
- Place
- Goodman, Missouri · 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
- N3533N · registry record · serial 22766
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED HIGH ENGINE OIL TEMPERATURE AND A ROUGH RUNNING ENGINE DURING CRUISE. HE ELECTED TO EXECUTE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING TO AN OPEN FIELD AND CONTACTED POWER LINES DURING THE APPROACH TO THE FIELD. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE COULD NOT SEE THE POWER LINES DUE TO THE BRIGHT SUN. TEARDOWN AND EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE CONFIRMED PROBLEMS WITH THE IGNITION SYSTEM AND THE ENGINE LUBRICATING SYSTEM.
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: 450 hours in all; 60 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-65-8FJ (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EOS Neosho MO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.