Piper J3C-85 N3339N

Summary

On 28 July 1997 at about 01:30 local time, a Piper J3C-85 registered N3339N was involved in an accident near Bullhead City, Arizona, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

28 July 1997 at 01:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Bullhead City, Arizona, United States

Nearest airport

Laughlin Bullhead City (KIFP)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Piper J3C-85

Registration

N3339N

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX97FA259

2 people died.

improper judgement of the pilot by intentionally performing low level maneuvers, and his misjudgment of a level-off over water.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was selling rides in a vintage Piper J3, which was equipped with floats and was being operated from the Colorado River. He was operating from an island in the river next to a residential area. Witnesses reported that the plane had been flying up and down the river at 40 to 50 feet. They said that the pilot would reverse course by pulling the nose up, turning 180 degrees, then leveling out just above the water. During a course reversal at low altitude, the airplane descended into the river. Warm temperatures and gusty winds were reported.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.