Piper J-3 accident near Portsmouth, Ohio, August 12, 1992
On August 12, 1992 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Piper J-3, registered N87945, was substantially damaged in an accident near Portsmouth, Ohio. 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
THE FAILURE OF THE PROPELLER LEADING EDGE AS THE RESULT OF CORROSION AND THE SUBSEQUENT FORCED LANDING ON UNSUITABLE TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 12, 1992 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Portsmouth, Ohio · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper J-3 · all J-3s on the register
- Registration
- N87945 · registry record · serial 15563
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT SAID, 'WE WERE AT 2500 FEET MEAN SEA LEVEL. ALL OF A SUDDEN WE STARTED EXPERIENCING A VERY VIOLENT VIBRATION....IT WAS VIBRATING SO BADLY I WAS AFRAID IT WAS GOING TO SHAKE THE ENGINE OFF THE AIRPLANE....I SHUT THE ENGINE OFF.' HE MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A FIELD WITH HIGH VEGITATION. THE FAA REPORT SAID, '...THE ENGINE VIBRATION WAS DUE TO WOOD PROPELLER DELAMINATION OVER ONE BLADE LEADING EDGE AND TIP. TRACES OF RUST WERE FOUND ON THE WOOD WHERE THE METAL INLAY WAS ATTACHED WITH STEEL SCREWS TO THE WOOD.' THE PROPELLER MANUFACTURER CONFIRMED THAT STEEL SCREWS ARE USED TO SECURE THE LEADING EDGE TO THE WOOD BLADE.
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
- Flight time: 325 hours in all; 107 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 276 as pilot in command; 48 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,290 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 28, 1991; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,270 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-65-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Minford OH at 2:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.