Piper J3C-65 accident near Harrisonville, Missouri, October 23, 1988
On October 23, 1988 at about 7:11 pm local time, a Piper J3C-65, registered N42676, was substantially damaged in an accident near Harrisonville, Missouri (Private airport). 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
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
- October 23, 1988 · about 7:11 pm local time
- Place
- Harrisonville, Missouri · Private · 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
- N42676 · registry record · serial 14969
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT ELECTED TO FLY IN WINDS THAT WERE GUSTING FROM THE NORTHWEST. HE STATED THAT WHILE TAKING OFF TO THE NORTH, HE WAS MAINTAINING A NORMAL RATE OF CLIMB & AIRSPEED, BUT AT APRX 100 FT AGL, THE ACFT ENCTRD A SUDDEN SEVERE DOWNDRAFT & WAS SLAMMED TO THE GROUND. IT IMPACTED IN A RAVINE APRX 1/4 MI FROM THE TAKEOFF POINT. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE ACFT WAS FOUND. THE PLT HAD NEITHER A CURRENT MEDICAL CERTIFICATE NOR THE REQUIRED BIENNIAL FLT REVIEW. ALSO, THE ACFT DID NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS FOR AN ANNUAL INSPN.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine
- Flight time: 5,000 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 5,000 as pilot in command; 3,000 on instruments
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-65-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,400 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 15 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:00 pm from GVW, 30 miles away
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.