Piper J3C accident near Waldoboro, Maine, November 25, 1994
On November 25, 1994 at about 5:15 pm local time, a Piper J3C, registered N98542, was substantially damaged in an accident near Waldoboro, Maine. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's premature lift off which resulted in insufficient climb performance and collision with trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 25, 1994 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Waldoboro, Maine
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper J3C · all J3Cs on the register
- Registration
- N98542 · no longer on the register · serial 18732
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED, 'I DID NOT GET LINED UP FOR TAKEOFF THE WAY I SHOULD BECAUSE OF THE DOG CHASING THE PLANE... THE PLANE WAS GOING SLOW AND AS I NEARED THE END OF THE RUNWAY MY RIGHT WING TIP HIT A TREE.' ACCORDING TO AN FAA INSPECTOR, DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL THE PILOT'S DOG RAN IN FRONT OF THE AIRPLANE. THE PILOT LIFTED OFF PREMATURELY TO AVOID HIS DOG AND THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TREES.
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: 110 hours in all; 60 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-12 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: ME
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 750 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: not reported
- Wind: from 240° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 15,000 ft; scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:52 pm from AUG, 24 miles away
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.