Piper J3C accident near Paso Robles, California, June 7, 2014
On June 7, 2014 at about 5:05 pm local time, a 1939 Piper J3C, registered N24918, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Paso Robles, California (Oak Country Ranch airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's steep right turn shortly after takeoff, which led to the airplane exceeding its critical angle-of-attack and experiencing an aerodynamic stall.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 7, 2014 · about 5:05 pm local time
- Place
- Paso Robles, California · Oak Country Ranch · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper J3C 65, built 1939 · all J3Cs on the register
- Registration
- N24918 · no longer on the register · serial 3535
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Witnesses observed the airplane lift off and, about midfield, start a right turn. The bank angle continued to steepen until the wings were vertical to the ground. The airplane appeared to be moving very slowly; the nose then lowered directly toward the ground. It is likely that during this steep turn, the airplane exceeded its critical angle-of-attack and stalled. The airplane came to rest about 500 feet abeam the midpoint of the runway, and sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. A caretaker at the pilot's ranch reported that he had observed numerous takeoffs and had never seen the pilot make a midfield turn. The pilot normally turned left or right at the departure end of the runway. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control in flight during initial climb defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 4,300 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: fatal
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 7,500 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,763 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 6, 2014; 9 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental Motors INC A65-8 (piston); 1,016 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 33CL Paso Robles CA at 5:04 pm
- Destination: PRB Paso Robles CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 2,200 ft by 50 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.85 inHg
- Observation at 5:05 pm from KPRB, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
10 documents, released by the NTSB on February 2, 2016. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Witness Statements | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 2 | NTSB on Site Exam Notes | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 3 | NTSB Airframe and Exam Notes | PDF, 12 pages | View Download |
| 4 | FAA Record of Conversation - Chandler | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Maintenance Logbook Excerpts | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Pilot 2 Logbook Excerpts | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Toxicological Report - Warren | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 8 | Toxicological Report - Berg | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 9 | Evidence Chain of Custody - Carburetor | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 10 | Photos | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.