Casualties unknown

Private Pilot Stalls Aircraft During Low Pass Near Picnic Gathering (N70968)

Waynesville, OH, US

On October 10, 1998, a Piper J3C-65 (registration N70968) was involved in an aviation accident near Waynesville, OH. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot inadvertently stalled the airplane in a climb. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-06-10Data APIEditorial standards

A private pilot and passenger were on a local pleasure flight when the airplane stalled and collided with terrain after a low pass near a picnic gathering of 70 people. The pilot reported no mechanical issues.

Incident Details

A private pilot and a passenger departed from an airport for a local pleasure flight, heading toward an area where approximately 70 people were gathered for a picnic. Witnesses observed the airplane flying low and slow, roughly 100 yards in front of the picnic attendees. The aircraft was then seen to pitch up, sharply roll to the right, enter a descending right-hand turn, and strike the ground in a nose-down attitude.

Pilot Report

The pilot stated that no mechanical malfunctions occurred with the airplane. He reported inadvertently stalling the aircraft during a climb. The pilot had logged a total of 166 flight hours, with only 6 hours in the make and model of the accident airplane.

Probable cause

The pilot inadvertently stalled the airplane in a climb.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001211X11274. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.