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 records · 356 cases since 1982, 54 fatal
2026-07-20CEN26LA266 · J3C-65 N92432 · accident near Richmond, TX · serious injuries
2026-04-10ERA26LA168 · J3C-65 N92480 · accident near Crestview, FL · serious injuries
2025-07-25ANC25FA079 · J3C-65 N5050R · accident near Dillingham, AK · 1 killed
2025-07-13CEN25LA249 · J3C-65 N88220 · accident near Howard, WI · no injuries
2025-06-24ERA25FA239 · J3C-65 N28DR · accident near Dunlap, TN · 1 killed
2025-05-04CEN25FA166 · J3C-65 N98416 · accident near Wilson, KS · 1 killed
2024-07-27ERA24LA328 · J3C-65 N77522 · accident near Groveland, FL · minor injuries
2024-07-27CEN24LA290 · J3C-65 N98813 · accident near Fort Worth, TX · no injuries
The 8 most recent of 356 cases where the NTSB's make and model match this family's versions. Rates per registered aircraft, phases of flight and causes are coming with the analytics stage. Each aircraft's own page also shows its record.
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 · 34 J3C-85 (all versions)
| Tail no. | Maker and model | Owner and base | Certificate | Registered | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N33160 | Piper J3C-85 |
Individual owner Minnesota |
Standard | 2026-06-24 | Valid |
| N70281 | Piper J3C-85 |
Individual owner Kentucky |
Standard | 2025-04-15 | Valid |
| N33010 | Piper J3C-85 |
Individual owner Washington |
Standard | 2025-03-05 | Valid |
| N98353 | Piper J3C-85 |
Yellow Therapy LLC Kalispell, Montana |
Standard | 2025-02-04 | Valid |
| N92110 | Piper J3C-85 |
Individual owner Georgia |
None on file | 2024-07-19 | Valid |
| N33RQ | Piper J3C-85 |
Individual owner Missouri |
Standard | 2024-05-21 | Valid |
| N42083 | Piper J3C-85 |
Co-owned owner Texas |
Standard | 2024-04-11 | Valid |
| N70793 | Piper J3C-85 |
Co-owned owner Florida |
Standard | 2024-03-20 | Valid |
| N70375 | Piper J3C-85 |
Hatbrightfarm LLC Wilmington, Delaware |
Standard | 2024-02-12 | Valid |
| N25248 | Piper J3C-85 |
Individual owner Indiana |
Standard | 2023-03-25 | Valid |
| N2176M | Piper J3C-85 |
Individual owner New York |
Standard | 2023-03-20 | Valid |
| N7116H | Piper J3C-85 |
Co-owned owner Oregon |
Standard | 2023-03-06 | Valid |
| N25804 | Piper J3C-85 |
Co-owned owner Missouri |
Standard | 2021-11-05 | Valid |
| N98022 | Piper J3C-85 |
Individual owner Michigan |
Standard | 2021-04-26 | Valid |
| N6529H | Piper J3C-85 |
Individual owner California |
Standard | 2020-05-19 | Valid |
| N2130M | Piper J3C-85 |
Individual owner Missouri |
Standard | 2020-03-13 | Valid |
| N38757 | Piper J3C-85 |
Individual owner Illinois |
Multiple | 2020-01-29 | Valid |
| N30846 | Piper J3C-85 |
Co-owned owner Wisconsin |
Standard | 2019-05-15 | Valid |
| N24721 | Piper J3C-85 |
Co-owned owner Montana |
Standard | 2018-03-28 | Valid |
| N5496N | Piper J3C-85 |
Woelbing Aviation LLC Franksville, Wisconsin |
Standard | 2018-03-14 | Valid |
| N23240 | Piper J3C-85 |
Individual owner California |
Standard | 2016-07-12 | Valid |
| N24759 | Piper J3C-85 |
Individual owner South Dakota |
Standard | 2016-03-02 | Valid |
| N35431 | Piper J3C-85 |
Individual owner Wisconsin |
Standard | 2013-07-18 | Valid |
| N7004H | Piper J3C-85 |
Individual owner West Virginia |
Standard | 2007-09-12 | Valid |
| N41175 | Piper J3C-85 |
Individual owner North Dakota |
Restricted | 2006-10-24 | Valid |
| N38449 | Piper J3C-85 |
Co-owned owner Oklahoma |
Multiple | 2003-10-27 | Valid |
| N62941 | Piper J3C-85 |
Individual owner Florida |
None on file | 1998-10-28 | Valid |
| N42782 | Piper J3C-85 |
Individual owner Alaska |
Standard | 1993-12-10 | Valid |
| N70510 | Piper J3C-85 |
Individual owner Florida |
Restricted | 1990-03-08 | Valid |
| N88507 | Piper J3C-85 |
Individual owner Wisconsin |
Standard | 1989-09-12 | Valid |
| N77509 | Piper J3C-85 |
Individual owner Texas |
Standard | 1984-07-18 | Valid |
| N42806 | Piper J3C-85 |
Individual owner Arizona |
Standard | 1976-10-29 | Valid |
| N31126 | Piper J3C-85 |
Individual owner Wisconsin |
Standard | 1974-10-22 | Valid |
| N3068K | Piper J3C-85 |
Individual owner Texas |
Standard | Pending |