Piper J3C-65 and Cessna 172E incident near Augusta, Maine, October 25, 1982
On October 25, 1982 at about 7:15 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Piper J3C-65 (N25973) and Cessna 172E (N5742T), were involved in the same incident near Augusta, Maine (Augusta airport). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. 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 incident. 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 25, 1982 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Augusta, Maine · Augusta
- Type
- Incident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Piper J3C-65 · all J3C-65s on the register
- Registration
- N25973 · registry record · serial 3927
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 172E · all 172Es on the register
- Registration
- N5742T · registry record · serial 1725642
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Piper J3C-65 final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT AND FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR (CFI) OF CESSNA 172, N5742T, STARTED TO TAXI WHILE THE STUDENT AND CFI OF PIPER JC3-65, N25973, WERE LANDING. THE CESSNA AIRCREW SAW THE PIPER LAND AND TURN OFF ONTO THE SAME TAXIWAY THAT THEY WERE ON, BUT FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. THEY STOPPED THE CESSNA ON THE EDGE OF THE TAXIWAY WITH THE RIGHT WHEEL JUST ON THE PAVEMENT TO MAKE ROOM FOR THE OTHER PLANE TO PASS. THE PIPER (WITH NO RADIO) WAS S-TURNING SO AS TO SEE AHEAD. THE CFI OF THE PIPER STATED THAT HE HAD UNBUCKLED AND PULLED HIMSELF UP TWICE TO LOOK OVER THE TOP OF THE DASHBOARD, BUT SAW NOTHING AHEAD. THE CFI OF THE CESSNA STATED THAT WHEN THE PIPER WAS ABOUT 200 FT AWAY, IT TURNED AS THOUGH TO PASS, BUT WHEN IT WAS ABOUT 50 FT AWAY, IT CHANGED DIRECTIONS AND RAN INTO HIS AIRCRAFT. HE STATED THAT THE CESSNA WAS STOPPED WITH THE BRAKES ON FOR ABOUT 20 SEC BEFORE THE COLLISION. BOTH AIRCRAFT RECEIVED ONLY MINOR DAMAGE.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 172E final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT AND FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR (CFI) OF CESSNA 172, N5742T, STARTED TO TAXI WHILE THE STUDENT AND CFI OF PIPER JC3-65, N25973, WERE LANDING. THE CESSNA AIRCREW SAW THE PIPER LAND AND TURN OFF ONTO THE SAME TAXIWAY THAT THEY WERE ON, BUT FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. THEY STOPPED THE CESSNA ON THE EDGE OF THE TAXIWAY WITH THE RIGHT WHEEL JUST ON THE PAVEMENT TO MAKE ROOM FOR THE OTHER PLANE TO PASS. THE PIPER (WITH NO RADIO) WAS S-TURNING SO AS TO SEE AHEAD. THE CFI OF THE PIPER STATED THAT HE HAD UNBUCKLED AND PULLED HIMSELF UP TWICE TO LOOK OVER THE TOP OF THE DASHBOARD, BUT SAW NOTHING AHEAD. THE CFI OF THE CESSNA STATED THAT WHEN THE PIPER WAS ABOUT 200 FT AWAY, IT TURNED AS THOUGH TO PASS, BUT WHEN IT WAS ABOUT 50 FT AWAY, IT CHANGED DIRECTIONS AND RAN INTO HIS AIRCRAFT HE STATED THAT THE CESSNA WAS STOPPED WITH THE BRAKES ON FOR ABOUT 20 SEC BEFORE THE COLLISION. BOTH AIRCRAFT RECEIVED ONLY MINOR DAMAGE.
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 for the Piper J3C-65 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,104 hours in all; 43 in this make and model; 301 in the last 90 days; 1,006 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,704 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Balloon Drifters, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: AUG Augusta ME
- Destination: AUG Augusta ME
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 4,199 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna 172E from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 579 hours in all; 36 in this make and model; 27 in the last 90 days; 28 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,547 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AUG Augusta ME at 3:15 pm
- Destination: AUG Augusta ME
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
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.