Piper J3 accident near Elliotville, Maine, September 5, 1990
On September 5, 1990 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Piper J3, registered N202CJ, was destroyed in an accident near Elliotville, Maine (Greenwood Pond airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A POWER LOSS FOR UNKNOWN REASONS OVER UNSUITABLE TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 5, 1990 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Elliotville, Maine · Greenwood Pond
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper J3 · all J3s on the register
- Registration
- N202CJ · no longer on the register · serial 20269
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT TOOK OFF IN A FLOAT EQUIPPED PIPER J3. HE REPORTED A POWERLOSS AT 150 FT AGL AND SAID HE WAS UNABLE TO RETURN TO THE LAKE. HE LANDED IN A WOODED AREA, STRUCK A TREE, AND THE AIRPLANE SLID TO THE BASE. THE AIRPLANE WAS DESTROYED BY A POST CRASH FIRE. ON SCENE EXAMINATION BY THE FAA DID NOT REVEAL THE CAUSE OF THE REPORTED POWER LOSS.
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: student
- Flight time: 77 hours in all; 15 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 15 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 825 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 3, 1990; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,394 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-12 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Destination: Monson ME
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°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.