Piper J3C accident near Jackson, California, September 8, 2018
On September 8, 2018 at about 3:16 pm local time, a 1946 Piper J3C, registered N70192, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Jackson, California (Westover Field/Amador County). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of directional control during takeoff and initial climb for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 8, 2018 · about 3:16 pm local time
- Place
- Jackson, California · Westover Field/Amador County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper J3C 65, built 1946 · all J3Cs on the register
- Registration
- N70192 · no longer on the register · serial 17120
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that all preflight inspections and control checks were normal; however, after liftoff, the left wing dipped, and the airplane pulled hard to the left. The pilot input corrective control actions, but the airplane continued to veer left. Realizing that the airplane would not be able to climb over approaching trees, the pilot reduced engine power and aimed the airplane between two trees in order to cushion the impact. The airplane came to rest upright about 450 ft east of the runway. Examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the flight control system, although full aileron travel could not be confirmed due to impact damage. The cockpit/cabin floor was plywood and contained multiple cutouts for the control system, all of which were properly sized to permit full travel of the respective controls; however, none of the control openings were equipped with flexible boots or were otherwise shielded to prevent foreign objects from either falling under the floor or becoming caught between the control and the cutout perimeter and thereby restricting or preventing control travel. A screwdriver and a bungee cord were found on the cockpit floor after the accident, but whether they contributed to the accident could not be determined. The shape and location of the rear seat rudder pedals, in combination with the anchor attach point locations of the front seat lap belts, was such that when fastened, either of the front seat lap belt halves could inadvertently capture or trap a rudder pedal and thereby restrict its travel. The reason for the pilot’s inability to maintain directional control during the takeoff and initial climb could not be determined based on the available information.
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 takeoff defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,200 hours in all; 666 in this make and model; 3 in the last 30 days; 2,200 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 5, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot-Rated Passenger
- Flight time: 9,999 hours in all; 9,999 in this make and model
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,915 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 9, 2018; 1 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A75-8-F (piston); 800 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: JAQ Jackson CA at 3:16 pm
- Destination: JAQ Jackson CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 3,401 ft by 60 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 3:35 pm from JAQ
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N70192 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.