Piper J3C-85 accident near Spencer, Massachusetts, April 9, 1983
On April 9, 1983 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Piper J3C-85, registered N26182, was substantially damaged in an accident near Spencer, Massachusetts (Spencer 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. 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
- April 9, 1983 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Spencer, Massachusetts · Spencer
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper J3C-85 · all J3C-85s on the register
- Registration
- N26182 · registry record · serial 4107
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS WARMING THE ENG FOR A COMPRESSION CHECK AND OIL CHANGE IN PREPARATION FOR AN ANNUAL INSPECTION. HE STATED THAT HE DECIDED TO FLY THE AIRCRAFT RATHER THAN RUN THE ENGINE ON THE GROUND. ON TKOF A HIGH RATE OF CLIMB WAS OBTAINED AND AT 150 MSL THE ENG QUIT. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A 180 DEGREE TURN BUT WAS UNABLE TO CLEAR TREES SHORT OF THE AIRPORT. THE ACFT CONTAINED ONLY 15-20 MINUTES OF FUEL. THE PILOTS RATE OF CLIMB UNPORTED THE FUEL OUTLETS AND STARVED THE ENGINE OF FUEL. THE PILOT STATES THAT HIS RATE OF CLIMB FORCED THE FUEL TO THE REAR OF THE FUEL TANK AWAY FROM THE OUTLET PIPE.
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: 900 hours in all; 125 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 844 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 125 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental 85 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MA10 Spencer MA at 8:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 1,700 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 15 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°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.