Piper J3-C65 accident near Westerly, Rhode Island, August 6, 1991
On August 6, 1991 at about 11:50 am local time, a Piper J3-C65, registered N30837, was substantially damaged in an accident near Westerly, Rhode Island (Westerly State airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
ENGINE FAILURE FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON. A FACTOR WAS THE PILOT MISJUDGING THE CLEARANCE OVER A FENCE DURING AN ATTEMPTED FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 6, 1991 · about 11:50 am local time
- Place
- Westerly, Rhode Island · Westerly State
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper J3-C65 · all J3-C65s on the register
- Registration
- N30837 · registry record · serial 5137
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT SHE EXPERIENCED A PARTIAL POWER LOSS AFTER TAKEOFF WHILE CLIMBING THROUGH 300 FEET AGL. SHE SUBSEQUENTLY ATTEMPTED TO TURN BACK TO THE AIRPORT, HOWEVER, DURING THE TURN THE AIRPLANE DEVELOPED A DESCENT RATE AND THE PILOT CHANGED HER INTENDED FORCED LANDING AREA TO A STREET RATHER THAN IN FRONT OF THE AIRPORT TERMINAL. ON SHORT FINAL, THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A CHAIN LINK FENCE AND CONTROL WAS LOST. THE AIRPLANE CAME TO REST IN FRONT OF THE TERMINAL. THE REASON FOR THE POWER LOSS WAS NOT DETERMINED DURING THE INVESTIGATION.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,000 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 1,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,188 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 19, 1990; 96 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A65-8 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Cub Club, INC
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 4,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.