Piper J3C-65 accident near Shelton, Washington, August 23, 1988
On August 23, 1988 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Piper J3C-65, registered N8370H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Shelton, Washington. 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
- August 23, 1988 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Shelton, Washington · 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
- N8370H · registry record · serial 8874
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER IN CRUISE FLIGHT WHILE FERRYING AN AIRCRAFT TO ITS HOME BASE AFTER AN ANNUAL INSPECTION. THE PILOT LANDED IN A SMALL FIELD OF RYE CROP. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE SIZE OF THE FIELD PRECLUDED A NORMAL APPROACH. THE AIRCRAFT MADE A HARD LANDING INTO THE SMALL FIELD. THE POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE FUEL FITTING TO THE CARBURETOR BROKE IN FLIGHT. FUEL STAINS WERE FOUND ALONG THE LOWER PORTION OF THE FUSELAGE. NO FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE CARBURETOR. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE FITTING HAD BEEN DEFORMED AT SOME PREVIOUS TIME. THE AIRCRAFT RECORDS SHOWED THAT THE FITTING HAD BEEN ADJUSTED DURING THE ANNUAL INSPECTION.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 7,195 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 6,490 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,174 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 13, 1988; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-12F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: WA22 Elma WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 045° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.