Piper J3C-65

Aircraft Manufacturer: Piper

Model: J3C-65

About the Piper J3C-65

The Piper J-3 Cub is a light aircraft that Piper Aircraft built between 1938 and 1947 and designed as a trainer. More than 3,000 examples remain on the U.S. civil registry, making the Cub Piper's third-largest active fleet by model.

About 60% of every J3C-65 ever listed on the U.S. registry has since been deregistered.

Recorded accidents for the Cub work out to about 1.8 per 1,000 aircraft-years across the type's FAA-registration exposure. The aircraft's accident rate is lower than that of nearly all comparable types, matched on aircraft type, engine class, and seat range. Of 121 recorded accidents, 16 involved a fatality.

Aircraft Details

Aircraft Details
Manufacturer Piper
Manufacturer Serial Number 7100510
Model J3C-65
Category Land
Aircraft Type Fixed wing single engine
Cruise Speed 67 MPH / 58 knots
Weight Class 1 (Up to 12,499 lbs gross take off weight)
Engine Type Reciprocating
Number of Engines 1 engine
Number of Seats 2 seats
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Safety Analysis

Composition of NTSB accident records for this model in general-aviation operations (FAR Part 91 and 137), based on NTSB data as of May 1, 2026. It's a breakdown of recorded accidents rather than a safety rating, and types with significant non-GA operation (such as Part 135) may be under-represented.

100%
Identity Confirmed

Accidents are identity-confirmed against FAA registration records (two independent sources).


76 exact, 45 recovered, 0 provisional

Methodology
121
Recorded GA Accidents

Total recorded general-aviation accidents within the analyzed period.


16 fatal accidents.

13.2% of recorded accidents were fatal.

3,196
Currently Registered

Active aircraft fleet size contributing to the exposure data.


68,157

Aircraft-years of FAA registration exposure (2008–present).


Comparison

Within its peer cohort

Within this model's peer class (same aircraft type, engine class, and seat range), comparison of its share of recorded NTSB accidents to its share of FAA registration exposure (aircraft-years since 2008).

This is a share comparison, not flight-hours adjusted, so a model flown more per airframe than its peers will show an accident share above its exposure share even if its per-hour safety is average. Methodology →

Model class Share of cohort
Accidents
1.6%
Exposure
3.5%
Time series

Accidents by year

Recorded NTSB general-aviation accidents per calendar year, derived directly from the NTSB accident database. Each bar shows the accidents that occurred in that year. Methodology →

Investigations take 12–36 months to finalise, so the trailing years come in incomplete. Recent years are adjusted upward for that lag. Observed counts show as solid bars, the lag-adjusted estimate shows hatched.

2008 – 2026 Total 121
Accidents by year Accidents by year (total 121 observed): 2008 9, 2009 7, 2010 10, 2011 7, 2012 5, 2013 3, 2014 9, 2015 4, 2016 1, 2017 8, 2018 8, 2019 9, 2020 5, 2021 9, 2022 6, 2023 7, 2024 8, 2025 4, 2026 2. 3 6 9 12 0 9 '08 7 '09 10 '10 7 '11 5 '12 3 '13 9 '14 4 '15 1 '16 8 '17 8 '18 9 '19 5 '20 9 '21 6 '22 8 '23 9 '24 4 '25 6 '26
Composition

Phase of flight

Which phase of flight each accident occurred in, as coded by the NTSB. Most accidents happen in the phases where most flying time is concentrated, so this isn't a measure of which phase is most dangerous.

10 categories Total 121
Landing 29
Initial climb 20
Approach 18
Takeoff 15
Enroute 12
Maneuvering 10
Taxi 7
Standing 4
Unknown 4
Emergency descent 2
Causes

Finding category

Top-level NTSB cause category, from the coded investigation findings. An accident often has more than one finding, so totals here can exceed the recorded accident count.

NTSB top-level codes Total 322
Personnel issues 127
Aircraft 112
Environmental issues 76
Not determined 7
Outcomes

Injury severity

NTSB classification of the worst injury in each accident: None, Minor, Serious, or Fatal. Each accident counts in exactly one severity.

Highest per accident Total 121
None 60
Minor 26
Serious 19
Fatal 16

Operating-rule mix (all parts): 091 (121)· NUSN (1)

Recorded Accidents

All 121 recorded NTSB general-aviation accidents for this model, most recent first.

Date Location Tail Damage Highest injury Phase of flight Finding categories
Bald Head Island, NC N4693S Substantial None Landing Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues
Winter Haven, FL N88509 Substantial Serious Approach Aircraft, Personnel issues
Kissimmee, FL N656CJ Substantial Minor Landing Personnel issues, Aircraft
Garberville, CA N3453K Substantial None Landing Aircraft, Personnel issues
Adrian, MO N70643 Substantial Fatal unknown Personnel issues
Gosport, IN N6269H Substantial None Enroute Aircraft
Hartford, WI N42522 Substantial Fatal Initial climb Aircraft, Personnel issues
Sandpoint, ID N946PD Substantial None Takeoff Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues
Sterling, AK N98109 Substantial None unknown Not determined
Slaughter, LA N26783 Substantial Fatal Initial climb Aircraft, Not determined
Justin, TX N42769 Substantial None Approach Environmental issues
Weslaco, TX N87715 Substantial Serious Initial climb Aircraft, Personnel issues
Weslaco, TX N6463H Substantial Serious Initial climb Aircraft, Personnel issues
El Cajon, CA N98615 Substantial None Approach Personnel issues, Aircraft
Hartford, WI N88204 Substantial None Taxi Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Mount Victory, OH N25702 Substantial None Standing Personnel issues
Grand Bay, AL N7009H Substantial None Initial climb Environmental issues, Aircraft, Personnel issues
Lander, WY N33463 Substantial Minor Takeoff Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Winfield, AL N7326H Substantial None Taxi Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Independence Charter Township, MI N98278 Substantial Serious Initial climb Aircraft
Russiaville, IN N49614 Substantial None Landing Aircraft, Personnel issues
San Diego, CA N92628 Substantial None Landing Aircraft, Personnel issues
Elyria, OH N98527 Substantial Fatal Takeoff Environmental issues, Aircraft, Personnel issues
Vine Grove, KY N70803 Substantial Serious Approach Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Louisa, VA N30683 Substantial None Landing Personnel issues, Aircraft

Page 2 of 5 (showing accidents 26–50 of 121).

Data presented on this website is sourced directly from official Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records. To ensure accuracy, we try not to correct issues such as improper punctuation, spelling errors, empty fields, or unusual labels like "SALE REPORTED" for a registrant. We make every effort to present information as it appears in the FAA database. This website is not affiliated with any government agency.