Piper J3C-65 accident near Taunton, Massachusetts, April 2, 2003
On April 2, 2003 at about 7:35 pm local time, a Piper J3C-65, registered N88387, was substantially damaged in an accident near Taunton, Massachusetts (Taunton Muni airport). 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
The pilot's inadequate compensation for the winds, and his failure to maintain airspeed which resulted in the inadvertent stall. A factor in the accident was the tailwind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 2, 2003 · about 7:35 pm local time
- Place
- Taunton, Massachusetts · Taunton Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper J3C-65 · all J3C-65s on the register
- Registration
- N88387 · registry record · serial 16005
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, prior to takeoff, he noted the wind sock was 70 to 90 degrees different to the wind he physically felt on the ground. He departed runway 30, and while in flight he observed smoke near the airport which indicated a crosswind of approximately 135 degrees to the runway, which he thought appeared to be the same as on take off. The pilot said when he landed on runway 30, the wind shifted and the tail of the airplane was picked up by the "tail/cross wind." The airplane then veered left and started to depart the runway. Unable to correct with rudder or brakes, the pilot applied full power to abort the landing. After lift off, to avoid trees, the pilot banked right which, "...caused the right wing to stall and slide into the ground by the wind sock." The pilot did not report any pre-impact mechanical difficulties with the airplane. Winds at the airport were reported to be from 110 degrees at 7 knots about 20 minutes after the accident, and as calm 45 minutes before the accident.
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: 340 hours in all; 15 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,704 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 24, 2002
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C65 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TAN Taunton MA
- Destination: TAN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 3,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 7:52 pm from TAN
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.