Piper J3 "CUB" accident near Morrilton, Arkansas, July 4, 1989
On July 4, 1989, a Piper J3 "CUB", registered N1414N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Morrilton, Arkansas (Petit Jean airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
Preview. This page is not yet listed for search engines.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE ABRUPT HANDLING OF THE AIRPLANE BY THE PILOT. HE FAILED TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED AND INADVERTANTLY STALLED AND SPUN THE AIRPLANE AT AN ALTITUDE INSUFFICIENT FOR RECOVERY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 4, 1989
- Place
- Morrilton, Arkansas · Petit Jean · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper J3 "CUB" · all J3 "CUB"s on the register
- Registration
- N1414N · registry record · serial 22936
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PIC STATED HE HAD JUST TAKEN OFF FROM THE AIRPORT AND MADE A STEEP BANKED TURN TO THE LEFT. HE SAID THE ATTITUDE OF THE AIRPLANE IN THE TURN WAS SUCH THAT THE 'WING STALLED CAUSING THE PLANE TO ENTER A LEFT SPIN.' THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE GROUND AND THE PIC SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED.
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: 540 hours in all; 287 in this make and model; 42 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 517 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 22 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,340 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-65-8F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MPJ at 1:25 am
- Destination: MPJ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:50 pm from LIT, 30 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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number MKC89LA151.