Premium research interface

The modern interface for aviation safety intelligence.

Search investigations, review source evidence, monitor watched reports, and trace long-term patterns from one calm, data-first workspace.

63k+
Reports indexed
1940-2026
Coverage
Recent
Last data refresh
Featured Report

Loading…

Loading featured report…

Loading…
Open Report

Safety trends by operating rule

Track fatal and non-fatal accident patterns across Part 91, Part 135, and Part 121 operations.

Loading trend charts…

Browse the aviation graph

Move quickly by aircraft, airport, operator, and time with indexes built for research, not wandering.

Last Data Update

By Decade

By Month

Aircraft Manufacturer

More manufacturers

Airports

More airports

Operators

More operators

About

Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

The goal is practical safety education: make it faster to find relevant investigations, compare similar events, review factual records, and understand the evidence behind probable-cause and preliminary reports.

The investigative work and source records belong to the National Transportation Safety Board and the published investigation record. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NTSB.

FAQs

NTSB Report

July 31, 2021 · Piper J3C-65 · N42522

Hartford, WI

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 31, 2021
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (1 fatality, 1 serious injury)
Location
Hartford, WI
Aircraft
Piper J3C-65 (1945)
Tail Number
N42522
Operator
Cub Air Flight
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CEN21FA345

The pilot receiving instruction reported that they had performed about 10 practice takeoffs and landings before the accident takeoff. On the accident takeoff, when the airplane reached an altitude of 400-500 ft above ground level (agl), the instructor said, “engine failure, turn around for 09”. The pilot receiving instruction later reported that it was unclear from the instructor’s statement whether it was an actual or a simulated engine failure. Both pilots were on the flight controls at the time and started a turn when the airplane entered a “graveyard spin”. The pilot receiving instruction remembered about 1 to 2 seconds of the spin and had no further recollection of the accident. Examination of the flight controls and engine did not reveal any preimpact anomalies that would preclude normal operation. Based on the surviving pilot’s description and the airplane damage signatures, the airplane was in a nose-low, left-wing low attitude at impact. It is likely that the airplane entered an inadvertent stall/spin when the critical angle of attack was exceeded. The surviving pilot was not sure if the airplane’s engine had actually lost power or if the flight instructor was simulating an engine emergency. The lack of engine-related mechanical anomalies and the pilot training purpose of the flight suggest that it was likely a simulated emergency scenario initiated by the flight instructor. The airplane was not equipped with shoulder harnesses and only lap seat belts were installed. Regulations did not require shoulder harnesses to be installed at the time it was manufactured. However, at the time of the accident, several manufacturers offered shoulder harnesses kits that could be retrofitted to the airplane under supplemental type certificate. The investigation determined that the injuries to the occupants were consistent with the use of only lap seat belts. The availability of shoulder harnesses would likely have reduced the severity of the injuries.

NTSB Probable Cause

The flight crew’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack during a simulated engine failure during initial climb after takeoff, which led to an aerodynamic stall/spin and loss of control. Contributing to the severity of the occupants’ injuries was the airplane’s lack of shoulder harnesses.

Full Narrative

On July 31, 2021, about 1130 central daylight time, a Piper J3C-65 airplane, N42522, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Hartford, Wisconsin. The flight instructor was fatally injured and the pilot receiving instruction was seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The pilot receiving instruction reported that they were practicing takeoffs and landings from runway 27 at the Hartford Municipal Airport (HXF) and had performed about 10 before the accident occurred. On the accident takeoff, when the airplane reached 400-500 ft agl, the instructor said, “engine failure, turn around for 09”. The instructor did not state if it was an actual or simulated engine failure. Both pilots were on the controls at this time and started a turn for runway 9 when the airplane entered a “graveyard spin.” He remembered about 1 to 2 seconds of the spin and had no further recollection of the accident. The airplane impacted a bean field about 1,100 ft west of the departure end of runway 27. Based on airframe damage signatures, the airplane impacted in a left-wing low, nose low attitude, with the airplane coming to rest about 35 ft west of the initial impact point. A postaccident examination of the airplane confirmed flight control system continuity from the cockpit controls to all control surfaces. There were no separations in any of the flight control cables. The left-wing spars were broken at the wing root, but the remainder of the wing was predominately intact. Both left lift struts were bent and remained attached at the fuselage and wing. The right wing remained attached to the fuselage with little damage. Both right lift struts were bent and remained attached to the fuselage and wing. The forward lower fuselage at the firewall was pushed rearward. The engine remained attached to the fuselage. One propeller blade was bent aft and under the engine, and the crankshaft was partially separated just aft of the propeller flange. Examination of the engine confirmed internal continuity, and both magnetos provided a spark on all spark plug leads. All spark plugs were examined, and no anomalies were noted. The front of the cabin area was crushed rearward and upward at the firewall, but the deformation was limited to the area where the front pilot would have placed their feet. The top of the instrument panel was bent forward, consistent with the front pilot impacting it during the accident sequence. The flight instructor in the front seat suffered fatal injuries attributed to blunt force trauma to the head by the medical examiner. The student pilot in the rear seat sustained serious head and torso injuries, including loss of consciousness, lumbar and rib fractures, and broken ulna and radius. When originally manufactured, the airplane was equipped with lap seat belts but did not have shoulder harnesses installed and no shoulder harnesses had been retrofitted to the airplane. A National Transportation Safety Board survival factors specialist used anthropometric data, photographic evidence, manufacturer drawings, and measurements taken from the accident scene to determine the occupant trajectories in the event of an accident both with and without shoulder harnesses installed. The study showed that both occupants were likely to impact their head and upper torso on structures located within the airplane’s cabin when restrained only by a lap belt. The addition of an upper torso restraint (shoulder harness) would likely have lessened the severity of the injuries by altering the body trajectories such that impact forces with objects within the cabin were eliminated or lessened. Effective July 18, 1977, Section 23.785 of 14 CFR Part 23 required all normal aircraft, for which application for type certificate was made on or after July 18, 1977, to have approved upper torso harnesses for each front seat. Section 14 CFR Part 91.205(b)(14) required all small civil airplanes manufactured after December 12, 1986, to have an approved upper torso harness for all seats. However, aircraft that were manufactured before that date were not required to have an upper torso restraint installed. In 1981 the NTSB initiated a multi-part general aviation crashworthiness program (NTSB Safety Report SR8301). The NTSB examined accidents and their effects on the occupants and airplane structure for the purpose of upgrading occupant protection design standards. In the second report in this program (NTSB Safety Report SR8501), the NTSB found that 20 percent of the fatally injured occupants in those accidents could have survived with upper torso harnesses (assuming the seatbelts were fastened properly) and 88 percent of the serious injuries could have significantly less severe injuries with the use of upper torso harnesses. The NTSB concluded that upper torso harness use was the most effective way of reducing fatalities and serious injuries in general aviation accidents. As a result of the program the NTSB issued safety recommendation A-85-124 recommending the FAA issue an advisory circular to provide information on crash survivability aspects of small aircraft. In March 1987, Technical Standard Order (TSO) C114, “Torso Restraint Systems,” was issued by the FAA. The TSO prescribed the minimum performance standards that upper torso harness restraint systems must meet to be identified with a TSO marking. Then on September 19, 2000, the FAA issued policy statement number ACE-00-23.561-01, “Methods of Approval of Retrofit Shoulder Harness Installation in Small Airplanes.” This provided guidance to make it easier to retrofit shoulder harnesses in certificated aircraft by making it a “minor change” if the following criteria were met: The aircraft was manufactured before July 19, 1978, for front seats and Dec. 12, 1986, for rear seats. TSO-C114 belts were used. No drilling or welding had been performed. The mechanic doing the install consulted Advisory Circular 43.13-2A, Chapter 9, for information on restraint systems, effective restraint angles, attachment methods, and other details of installation. The installing mechanic made an entry in the aircraft's maintenance log. If drilling or welding was required, then a supplemental type certificate or field approval was required to make the modification. At the time of this accident several manufacturers offered shoulder harness kits that could be retrofit to the accident airplane under supplemental type certificate.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time11:30 CDT
Nearest AirportHartford Muni (0nm W)
Runway09/2
Runway Length3401 ft
Runway Width75 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper J3C-65
Tail NumberN42522
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorCub Air Flight
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · C90-8 · Reciprocating · 90
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (1 fatality, 1 serious injury)
Fatal1
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 21 · First Class · Fatal
Crew 2Age 18 · Third Class · Serious

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind260° @ 5 kt, gusting 8 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point61 F
Altimeter30.02 inHg
Observation Time11:35
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data