Piper J3C-65 accident near Garberville, California, October 4, 2021
On October 4, 2021 at about 7:00 pm local time, a 1946 Piper J3C-65, registered N3453K, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Garberville, California (Garberville airport). 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
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a runway excursion and subsequent collision with an unoccupied parked airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 4, 2021 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Garberville, California · Garberville · 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 J3C-65s on the register
- Registration
- N3453K · no longer on the register · serial 22144
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was landing the tailwheel-equipped airplane when the accident occurred. He reported that, after conducting a wheel landing, the airplane veered to the right as the tailwheel touched down. He attempted to abort the landing; however, the airplane did not have enough airspeed and exited the right side of the runway, where it impacted an unoccupied parked airplane. Postaccident examination of the airplane’s tailwheel revealed that when installed on the airplane, it remained within the steering detents. When sufficient force was applied, the tailwheel traveled beyond the detent to the left; however, it did not travel beyond the detent to the right. In addition to the tailwheel spring clip, a braided portion of safety wire was attached to the steering arm and connector spring assembly. Once removed, the tailwheel functioned normally. Disassembly of the tailwheel did not reveal any preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. It is likely that, while the tailwheel assembly was connected to airplane, the safety wire installed between the steering arm and connector spring assembly would not allow the tailwheel to rotate beyond the detent when moved to the right. However, the tailwheel not traveling beyond the detent to a full-swivel condition would not have prevented the pilot from maintaining direction control while landing.
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 on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: glider; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 6,000 hours in all; 2,000 in this make and model; 80 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 5,800 as pilot in command; 300 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 29, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 12 hours in all; 12 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,255 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 28, 2021
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental Motors C-85 (piston); 330 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,783 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:15 pm from KFOT, 32 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KFOT 051915Z AUTO 30004KT 10SM CLR 17/12 A3000 RMK AO1=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
6 documents, released by the NTSB on March 22, 2023. 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 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Phone Conversation (FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Tailwheel Exam | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Photo Array | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Evidence Control Form | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N3453K 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.