NTSB CHI88LA173 — 1988-07-22 · MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota, United States

Current FAA registration · N25WF

Make / Model: PIPER/WALLY'S FLYERS INC J3C-65
Engine: CONT MOTOR A&C65 SERIES (65 hp)
Seats / Engines: 1 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date: 19860814
ADS-B equipped: Yes — Mode-S A2571F

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

N25WF Piper J-3 None

Factual narrative

WHILE PRACTICING A LANDING ON A SOLO INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT, THE STUDENT PILOT ALLOWED THE AIRCRAFT TO DRIFT OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND STRIKE THE VASI LIGHTS. THE STUDENT PILOT HAD ONLY FLOWN 2 HOURS, INCLUDING 10 TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS, IN THE PAST 90 DAYS, AND STATED THAT THE WINDS WERE SHIFTING AROUND WHILE HE WAS IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1988_CHI88LA173.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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