Piper J3C-65 accident near Elmira, Oregon, March 13, 1984
On March 13, 1984, a Piper J3C-65, registered N68925, was substantially damaged in an accident near Elmira, Oregon (Crow-Mag airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 13, 1984
- Place
- Elmira, Oregon · Crow-Mag · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper J3C-65 · all J3C-65s on the register
- Registration
- N68925 · registry record · serial 13702
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH POWER LINES AND TREES AFTER A POWER LOSS DURING THE TAKEOFF INITIAL CLIMB. THE PLT STATED HE ATTEMPTED A CLIMBING TURN TO AVOID THE POWER LINES AND TREES BUT THE ACFT ENTERED A DEPARTURE STALL, THE ACFT WAS USING AUTOMOTIVE FUEL. AN FAA INSPECTOR REPORTED THE MAGNETO SWITCH ON LEFT MAGNETO ONLY.
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
- Flight time: 332 hours in all; 261 in this make and model; 32 in the last 90 days; 302 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,150 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 10, 1983; 42 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A80 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Alpine OR
- Destination: OR62 Elmira OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 3,200 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,500 ft; scat at 3,200 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.