Piper J-3 Cub
3,805 on the U.S. register across 22 versions the FAA records separately. Built from 1938 to 1994; half of them date from 1946 or earlier. Texas has the most (325). 22% are registered to companies, flight schools, clubs and other organisations; the rest to individuals, who are never named here.
About the J-3 from the FAA's model table
- Type
- Fixed-wing, single engine · Piston singles
- Power
- Piston (reciprocating), 1 engine
- Common engines
- Cont Motor A&C65 Series (2,170), Cont Motor C85 Series (528), Cont Motor A&C75 Series (189)
- Seats
- 2
- Cruise speed
- about 67 mph
- Makers on the register
- Piper, Piper Aircraft Corp
- Registered
- earliest certificate September 5, 1946; newest October 1, 2026
Where they are owner's state
Texas325Florida283California230Wisconsin158Pennsylvania151Georgia151New York136Ohio134North Carolina134Washington112Minnesota110Illinois110
Who owns them registrant type
Individual2,485 (65%)Co-owned486 (13%)LLC415 (11%)Corporation319 (8%)Partnership92 (2%)Non-citizen corporation5 (0.1%)Not stated2 (0.1%)Government1 (0.0%)
Versions as the FAA records them · click one to list only those aircraft
| Version | Registered | Built | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| J3C-65 | 3,191 | 1937 to 1985 | 83.9% |
| J3L-65 | 179 | 1931 to 1955 | 4.7% |
| J3F-65 | 127 | 1938 to 1994 | 3.3% |
| J-3 | 104 | 1937 to 1975 | 2.7% |
| J-3C | 56 | 1940 to 1957 | 1.5% |
| J3C-85 | 34 | 1939 to 1946 | 0.9% |
| J3C-65S | 26 | 1940 to 1946 | 0.7% |
| J3F-50 | 22 | 1938 to 1984 | 0.6% |
| J3L | 15 | 1939 to 1946 | 0.4% |
| J3F-60 | 13 | 1938 to 1941 | 0.3% |
| J3C-50 | 13 | 1938 to 1947 | 0.3% |
| J3C-75 | 7 | 1939 to 1946 | 0.2% |
| J3C-90 | 6 | 1941 to 1946 | 0.2% |
| J3P | 3 | 1938 to 1939 | 0.1% |
| J3C65 | 2 | 1944 to 1946 | 0.1% |
| J3L-65S | 1 | 1939 | 0.0% |
| J3F-90 | 1 | 1946 | 0.0% |
| J3C-90-8F | 1 | — | 0.0% |
| J3C-75S | 1 | 1946 | 0.0% |
| J3C-50S | 1 | 1946 | 0.0% |
| J3-L4J | 1 | 1992 | 0.0% |
| J-3C-65/L-4 | 1 | 1944 | 0.0% |
When they were built by decade · 816 with no year on file
Registrations by year certificates issued since 2010, including changes of owner · 2026 is the year so far
Registration status
Valid3,754 (99%)Pending26 (0.7%)Sale reported8 (0.2%)Revoked7 (0.2%)Pending cancellation4 (0.1%)Canceled3 (0.1%)
Airworthiness certificate class
Standard3,395 (89%)None on file166 (4%)Restricted134 (4%)Multiple74 (2%)Experimental34 (0.9%)Special flight permit2 (0.1%)
Biggest operators companies, schools and clubs
Van Wagner Aerial Media LLC10Cape May Aerial Advertising LLC7Stewarts Aircraft Service INC6Pa-18 LLC6Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum5Southern Aircraft Consultancy INC Trustee5International Air Services INC Trustee5Plane Fun INC Tr Trustee4Orton Aviation LLC4Texas Barnstorming Museum3Scootair LLC3Riggin Flight Service INC3
Fleet pages: Van Wagner Aerial Media LLC · Cape May Aerial Advertising LLC · Stewarts Aircraft Service INC · Pa-18 LLC · Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum · Southern Aircraft Consultancy INC Trustee · International Air Services INC Trustee · Plane Fun INC Tr Trustee
Accident history NTSB
Each aircraft's own page already shows its NTSB accident and incident record. The model-wide record (accidents per year, fatal and non-fatal, against the number registered) is being added; it will appear here.
Questions people ask answers refresh every morning
How many Piper J-3 Cub aircraft are registered in the U.S.?
3,805 as of October 2, 2026, counting 22 versions the FAA records separately.
Which state has the most Piper J-3s?
Texas, with 325.
Who owns the Piper J-3?
22% are registered to companies, flight schools, clubs and other organisations; the rest to individuals and co-owners, who are never named on this site.
Aircraft newest certificates first · 104 J-3 (all versions)
| Tail no. | Maker and model | Owner and base | Certificate | Registered | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N88599 | Piper J-3 |
Individual owner Michigan |
Standard | 2026-04-16 | Valid |
| N98479 | Piper J-3 |
Individual owner Kentucky |
Standard | 2026-01-21 | Valid |
| N3603K | Piper J-3 |
Individual owner Oregon |
Standard | 2025-12-09 | Valid |
| N23420 | Piper J-3 |
Co-owned owner Maryland |
Standard | 2025-09-26 | Valid |
| N32950 | Piper J-3 |
Individual owner Pennsylvania |
Standard | 2025-09-19 | Valid |
| N38456 | Piper J-3 |
Anderson Timothy L Fincastle, Virginia |
Standard | 2025-08-20 | Valid |
| N48303 | Piper J-3 |
Individual owner Idaho |
Standard | 2025-04-22 | Valid |
| N33136 | Piper J-3 |
Flying A Aviation LLC Archer City, Texas |
Standard | 2024-11-14 | Valid |
| N31178 | Piper J-3 |
Individual owner Wisconsin |
Standard | 2024-09-19 | Valid |
| N92273 | Piper J-3 |
Individual owner Texas |
Standard | 2024-08-09 | Valid |
| N20257 | Piper J-3 |
Palmer Flying Service INC Manito, Illinois |
Standard | 2024-07-22 | Valid |
| N38333 | Piper J-3 |
Sonex Aircraft LLC Oshkosh, Wisconsin |
Experimental | 2024-07-09 | Valid |
| N42669 | Piper J-3 |
Individual owner Georgia |
Standard | 2024-06-17 | Valid |
| N98303 | Piper J-3 |
Individual owner Tennessee |
Restricted | 2024-03-13 | Valid |
| N21523 | Piper J-3 |
Co-owned owner Illinois |
Restricted | 2024-02-07 | Valid |
| N70299 | Piper J-3 |
Individual owner Washington |
Experimental | 2024-01-31 | Valid |
| N16PD | Piper J-3 |
Individual owner Georgia |
Restricted | 2024-01-09 | Valid |
| N3556K | Piper J-3 |
Fairweather Flying Service LLC Juneau, Alaska |
Multiple | 2023-11-07 | Valid |
| N32852 | Piper J-3 |
Individual owner Florida |
Standard | 2023-10-13 | Valid |
| N6711H | Piper J-3 |
Co-owned owner California |
Standard | 2023-09-29 | Valid |
| N99199 | Piper J-3 |
Individual owner Pennsylvania |
None on file | 2023-06-07 | Valid |
| N69098 | Piper J-3 |
Individual owner California |
Standard | 2023-05-31 | Valid |
| N2583Z | Piper J-3 |
Taildraggers LLC Caledonia, Illinois |
Standard | 2023-05-11 | Valid |
| N20165 | Piper J-3 |
Individual owner Georgia |
Experimental | 2023-05-01 | Valid |
| N26040 | Piper J-3 |
Individual owner Virginia |
Multiple | 2023-03-30 | Valid |
| N20261 | Piper J-3 |
Individual owner Maryland |
Standard | 2023-03-22 | Valid |
| N98090 | Piper J-3 |
Individual owner Delaware |
None on file | 2023-02-22 | Valid |
| N7365H | Piper J-3 |
Excelsior Aviation 2 LLC Lewes, Delaware |
Standard | 2023-01-07 | Valid |
| N77540 | Piper J-3 |
Individual owner New York |
None on file | 2023-01-05 | Valid |
| N4999A | Piper J-3 |
Miller Jay Mark Grantsville, Maryland |
Standard | 2022-10-08 | Valid |
| N98565 | Piper J-3 |
Individual owner Wisconsin |
None on file | 2022-05-20 | Valid |
| N87834 | Piper J-3 |
Chase 13 LLC Wilmington, Delaware |
Restricted | 2022-02-22 | Valid |
| N9822N | Piper J-3 |
Individual owner Ohio |
Standard | 2022-02-05 | Valid |
| N98608 | Piper J-3 |
Individual owner Virginia |
Standard | 2022-01-29 | Valid |
| N42023 | Piper J-3 |
Individual owner Florida |
Standard | 2021-12-28 | Valid |
| N30833 | Piper J-3 |
Individual owner New York |
Standard | 2021-09-02 | Valid |
| N42340 | Piper J-3 |
Individual owner Florida |
Standard | 2021-09-01 | Valid |
| N8688 | Piper J-3 |
Individual owner Tennessee |
None on file | 2021-07-29 | Valid |
| N24710 | Piper J-3 |
Individual owner Texas |
Standard | 2021-06-17 | Valid |
| N87210 | Piper J-3 |
Bfr Racing INC Monticello, Arkansas |
None on file | 2020-11-05 | Valid |
| N98216 | Piper J-3 |
Individual owner Tennessee |
Multiple | 2020-04-29 | Valid |
| N3623N | Piper J-3 |
Individual owner Minnesota |
Standard | 2019-10-10 | Valid |
| N3967B | Piper J-3 |
Individual owner Colorado |
Experimental | 2019-09-24 | Valid |
| N37951 | Piper J-3 |
Individual owner Arkansas |
None on file | 2019-07-17 | Expired |
| N858EM | Piper J-3 |
Co-owned owner North Dakota |
Experimental | 2019-02-21 | Valid |
| N42959 | Piper J-3 |
Individual owner North Carolina |
Standard | 2019-02-12 | Valid |
| N27937 | Piper J-3 |
Individual owner Texas |
Standard | 2018-12-11 | Valid |
| N30496 | Piper J-3 |
Individual owner Washington |
Standard | 2018-08-31 | Valid |
| N98572 | Piper J-3 |
Individual owner California |
Standard | 2018-06-14 | Valid |
| N98002 | Piper J-3 |
Individual owner Texas |
Standard | 2018-04-02 | Valid |
| N88383 | Piper J-3 |
Individual owner Ohio |
Standard | 2018-02-15 | Valid |
| N20231 | Piper J-3 |
Individual owner Texas |
Standard | 2017-08-25 | Valid |
| N51539 | Piper J-3 |
Van Wagner Aerial Media LLC Pembroke Pines, Florida |
Restricted | 2017-01-24 | Valid |
| N2154M | Piper J-3 |
Individual owner Michigan |
Standard | 2016-06-22 | Valid |
| N70267 | Piper J-3 |
Individual owner Texas |
Standard | 2016-02-24 | Valid |
| N3570K | Piper J-3 |
Co-owned owner Washington |
Standard | 2015-12-12 | Valid |
| N20833 | Piper J-3 |
Individual owner Texas |
Standard | 2015-09-04 | Valid |
| N418LS | Piper J-3 |
Individual owner Maine |
Standard | 2015-07-02 | Valid |
| N70777 | Piper J-3 |
Skywagon Aero LLC Wilmington, Delaware |
Restricted | 2015-03-20 | Valid |
| N30859 | Piper J-3 |
Individual owner Indiana |
Standard | 2015-01-14 | Valid |
| N2230M | Piper J-3 |
Individual owner Maine |
Standard | 2014-08-13 | Valid |
| N75777 | Piper J-3 |
Individual owner Indiana |
Restricted | 2014-05-30 | Valid |
| N3213N | Piper J-3 |
Withheld at owner's request | Standard | 2014-05-21 | Valid |
| N98390 | Piper J-3 |
Command Aire LLC Sitka, Alaska |
Standard | 2014-04-08 | Valid |
| N88548 | Piper J-3 |
Individual owner Texas |
Standard | 2014-04-04 | Valid |
| N88222 | Piper J-3 |
Individual owner Indiana |
None on file | 2013-09-04 | Valid |
| N755MA | Piper J-3 |
Mills Air Service INC Marstons Mills, Massachusetts |
Restricted | 2013-06-27 | Valid |
| N98719 | Piper J-3 |
Individual owner Texas |
Standard | 2013-03-04 | Valid |
| N20206 | Piper J-3 |
Individual owner Pennsylvania |
Standard | 2012-07-18 | Valid |
| N20156 | Piper J-3 |
Individual owner Pennsylvania |
Standard | 2012-05-14 | Valid |
| N50364 | Piper J-3 |
Kriegsman Transfer CO Pekin, Illinois |
Standard | 2011-11-15 | Valid |
| N17RB | Piper J-3 |
N17Rb LLC Fredericksburg, Pennsylvania |
Experimental | 2011-06-15 | Valid |
| N32912 | Piper J-3 |
Co-owned owner Texas |
Standard | 2011-06-09 | Valid |
| N42585 | Piper J-3 |
Individual owner Indiana |
Standard | 2010-09-22 | Valid |
| N6565H | Piper J-3 |
Individual owner California |
Standard | 2010-07-29 | Valid |
| N88587 | Piper J-3 |
Individual owner Texas |
Standard | 2009-02-05 | Valid |
| N33026 | Piper J-3 |
Co-owned owner Georgia |
Standard | 2007-12-27 | Valid |
| N23135 | Piper J-3 |
Individual owner California |
Standard | 2007-10-16 | Valid |
| N20240 | Piper J-3 |
War Eagles Air Museum Santa Teresa, New Mexico |
None on file | 2007-06-06 | Valid |
| N6535H | Piper J-3 |
Aerial Sign North INC Lakewood, New Jersey |
Restricted | 2007-05-05 | Valid |
| N6134H | Piper J-3 |
Individual owner Minnesota |
Restricted | 2007-03-22 | Valid |
| N98452 | Piper J-3 |
Individual owner Arkansas |
Standard | 2006-08-18 | Valid |
| N35463 | Piper J-3 |
Individual owner Texas |
Restricted | 2005-09-29 | Valid |
| N32743 | Piper J-3 |
Individual owner Florida |
Standard | 2004-08-31 | Valid |
| N70555 | Piper J-3 |
Individual owner Michigan |
Restricted | 2004-03-16 | Valid |
| N38881 | Piper J-3 |
Bishops LTD Virginia Beach, Virginia |
Standard | 2003-12-01 | Valid |
| N3261N | Piper J-3 |
Co-owned owner South Carolina |
Standard | 2001-04-18 | Valid |
| N2CE | Piper J-3 |
World Aircraft INC Wilmington, Delaware |
Standard | 2000-08-15 | Valid |
| N88133 | Piper J-3 |
Individual owner North Carolina |
Standard | 2000-01-13 | Valid |
| N1468N | Piper J-3 |
Individual owner Indiana |
Standard | 1999-07-07 | Valid |
| N77596 | Piper J-3 |
Co-owned owner North Dakota |
Multiple | 1997-10-08 | Valid |
| N72281 | Piper J-3 |
Individual owner Louisiana |
None on file | 1997-07-29 | Valid |
| N3360N | Piper J-3 |
Individual owner South Dakota |
Standard | 1997-04-30 | Valid |
| N38748 | Piper J-3 |
Co-owned owner Florida |
Standard | 1997-01-17 | Valid |
| N98752 | Piper J-3 |
Individual owner California |
Standard | 1994-10-03 | Valid |
| N35535 | Piper J-3 |
Individual owner Florida |
Standard | 1994-01-28 | Valid |
| N45769 | Piper J-3 |
Individual owner Illinois |
None on file | 1984-04-19 | Valid |
| N7291H | Piper J-3 |
Individual owner Alaska |
Multiple | 1983-01-21 | Valid |
| N7322H | Piper J-3 |
Aviation Services INC Barre, Vermont |
Standard | 1981-04-08 | Valid |
| N4218V | Piper J-3 |
Cub Club INC Sayville, New York |
None on file | 1981-02-04 | Valid |
Page 1 of 2
Next