Piper J-3 accident near Clarksville, Arkansas, June 23, 1990
On June 23, 1990 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Piper J-3, registered N38348, was substantially damaged in an accident near Clarksville, Arkansas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 23, 1990 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Clarksville, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper J-3 · all J-3s on the register
- Registration
- N38348 · registry record · serial 6957
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, IN A LEFT CROSSWIND TURN, THE AIRPLANE STALLED AND DESCENDED OUT OF CONTROL TO IMPACT. THERE WERE NO MECHANICA MALFUNCTIONS DISCOVERED OR REPORTED BY THE PILOT. THE PILOT STATED THAT AT 200 FEET AGL HE TURNED DOWNWIND TO THE LEFT. THE AIRPLANE WOULD NOT MAINTAIN ALTITUDE AND THE NOSE WAS LOWERED IN AN ATTEMPT TO GAIN AIRSPEED. DESCENT CONTINUED AND THE PILOT RAISED THE NOSE TO CLEAR POWER LINES. IMPACT SUBSEQUENTLY OCCURRED IN A NOSE LOW ATTITUDE. ANOTHER PILOT REPORTED WIND GUSTS AND TURBULENCE IN THE AREA.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,310 hours in all; 110 in this make and model; 48 in the last 90 days; 39 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-65-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.