Piper J-3-C accident near Hamilton, Ohio, February 4, 1991
On February 4, 1991 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Piper J-3-C, registered N6337H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hamilton, Ohio. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND TO TOUCHDOWN IN A SUITABLE AREA AFTER HE EXPERIENCED A POWER LOSS. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE IMPROPERLY MAINTAINED CARBURETOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 4, 1991 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Hamilton, Ohio · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper J-3-C · all J-3-Cs on the register
- Registration
- N6337H · registry record · serial 19517
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CFI WAS CHECKING OUT A PRIVATE PILOT. THEY WERE DOING STALLS WHEN THE PROPELLER STOPPED. THE AIRPLANE DID NOT HAVE A STARTER AND THEY TRIED TO GET THE PROPELLER WINDMILLING BUT WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. THE FAA REPORTED THE PILOT LANDED 30 FT. SHORT OF A 4000 FT FIELD WHICH COLLAPSED THE LANDING GEAR. ADDITIONALLY, THE FAA REPORTED THE CARBURETOR FLOAT WAS IMPROPERLY SET WHICH CAUSED AN OVERLY RICH MIXTURE AT VARIOUS POWER SETTING. THEY OBSERVED BLACK SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE EXHAUSTS BETWEEN IDLE AND 1400 RPM/
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 394 hours in all; 8 in this make and model; 110 in the last 90 days; 48 in the last 30 days; 288 as pilot in command; 90 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A65-8F (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Pro Aero
The flight
- Departed from: HAO Hamilton OH at 6:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.