Piper J-3 accident near Chenango Bridge, New York, September 15, 1985
On September 15, 1985 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Piper J-3, registered N41440, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chenango Bridge, New York (Chenango Bridge airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- September 15, 1985 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Chenango Bridge, New York · Chenango Bridge
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper J-3 · all J-3s on the register
- Registration
- N41440 · no longer on the register · serial 8071
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE PAX AFTER TAKEOFF THE AIRCRAFT CLIMBED TO ABOUT 300 FEET. THE PILOT THEN MADE A RIGHT TURN. DURING THE TURN THE PILOT YELLED OUT 'WE'RE LOSING IT, WE'RE LOSING IT.' AFTERWARDS THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED AND IMPACTED THE GROUND. THE PAX DOES NOT RECALL A DECREASE IN ENGINE POWER. THE PILOT DOES NOT HAVE RECOLLECTION OF THE OCCURRENCE. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT DISCLOSE EVIDENCE OF MALFUNCTION. THE CARB HT WAS FOUND IN THE ON POSITION.
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: 302 hours in all; 32 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 232 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,342 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 1984; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Teledyne Cont A-75 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 4N2 Chenango Bridge NY at 6:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 45 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:51 pm from BGM, 8 miles away
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.