NTSB CHI88LA222 — 1988-08-27 · YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio, United States

Current FAA registration · N38346

Make / Model: PIPER J3L-65
Year of manufacture: 1941 · 47 years old at event
Engine: LYCOMING 0-145B SERIES (65 hp)
Seats / Engines: 2 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date: 19560520
ADS-B equipped: Yes — Mode-S A46972

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

N38346 Piper J-3 Serious

Factual narrative

THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH TO THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE, AND THE PILOT WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED WHEN THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND APPROXIMATELY 25' SHORT OF THE APPROACH END OF THE RUNWAY AND NOSED DOWN. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT'S WIFE, THE PILOT HAS NO RECOLLECTION OF THE ACCIDENT OR EVENTS PRECEDING THE ACCIDENT DUE TO THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE HEAD INJURIES HE RECEIVED. THE POLICE REPORT STATED THAT THERE WAS NO FUEL IN THE TANK, OR ON THE GROUND AROUND THE AIRCRAFT, AND THAT 'PROPELLER (BLADES) NOT BENT, APPEARS ENGINE NOT RUNNING AT TIME OF CRASH.' Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1988_CHI88LA222.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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