Piper J3C-65 accident near Stonington, Connecticut, August 11, 1993
On August 11, 1993 at about 11:45 pm local time, a Piper J3C-65, registered N98382, was substantially damaged in an accident near Stonington, Connecticut. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL/SPIN, AND THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF THE CARBURETOR HEAT WHICH RESULTED IN THE ACCRETION OF CARBURETOR ICE. A FACTOR WAS CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 11, 1993 · about 11:45 pm local time
- Place
- Stonington, Connecticut
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper J3C-65 · all J3C-65s on the register
- Registration
- N98382 · registry record · serial 18657
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS MANEUVERING AT A LOW ALTITUDE IN CONDITIONS OF HIGH HUMIDITY, WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER. ACCORDING TO THE FAA, THE PILOT SAID HE HAD USED CARBURETOR HEAT PRIOR TO THE MANEUVER. AFTER THE POWER LOSS, THE PILOT SAID THE AIRPLANE ENTERED A SPIN AND REGAINED CONTROL BUT NOT IN TIME TO AVOID IMPACTING WATER. THE EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT DISCLOSE EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION. ACCORDING TO THE CARBURETOR ICING CHART, THE TEMPERATURE/DEWPOINT WAS IN THE AREA OF, 'MODERATE ICING - CRUISE POWER OR SERIOUS ICING - GLIDE POWER.' THE FAA REPORTED THE CARBURETOR HEAT BOX WAS DAMAGED, BUT THE HEAT APPEARED TO BE ON.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 4,600 hours in all; 1,600 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,500 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 12, 1993
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-65-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:45 pm from GON, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number NYC93LA147.