Piper J3C-65 accident near Pittsfield, Pennsylvania, August 23, 2004
On August 23, 2004 at about 2:00 pm local time, a Piper J3C-65, registered N7068H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pittsfield, Pennsylvania (Brokenstraw 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
Improper installation of the tailwheel assembly and the inadequate annual inspection which resulted in a loss of directional control during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 23, 2004 · about 2:00 pm local time
- Place
- Pittsfield, Pennsylvania · Brokenstraw · 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
- N7068H · registry record · serial 20314
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot preflighted the airplane, boarded, and then departed runway 27 for left closed traffic. He noticed no problems with the airplane during taxi, takeoff, approach, or landing until the tail wheel touched down, and he lost directional control. The airplane departed the runway, struck a hangar and came to rest; the pilot secured the fuel selector, and exited without injury. Examination of the wreckage revealed numerous airworthy issues, to include the tailwheel assembly bolt being installed upside down, and binding of the tailwheel. The airplane received an annual inspection about 6 flight hours prior to the accident, on June 28, 2004. According to Federal Aviation Regulations, the mechanic that performed the annual inspection was required to inspect the tailwheel assembly prior to returning the airplane to service.
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; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 652 hours in all; 4 in the last 90 days; 652 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 9, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,956 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 28, 2004; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C65 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: P15 Pittsfield PA at 1:55 pm
- Destination: P15
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,665 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 1:58 pm from JHW, 50 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.
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.