Casualties unknown

Floatplane Damaged During Grass Landing (N3253N)

West Fargo, ND, US

On June 11, 2001, a Piper J3-C65 (registration N3253N) was involved in an aviation accident near West Fargo, ND. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: the pilot's inadequate preflight planning and the unsuitable landing area selected by the pilot. Additional factors were the uneven terrain and the failed float assembly in overload. 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 floatplane sustained substantial damage after landing on a grass field, causing the float rigging to collapse and damaging the wing. The pilot reported an abrupt turn during the landing slide, leading to side loading of the floats.

Incident Details

A floatplane was substantially damaged when it landed on a grass field. During the landing rollout, the float rigging collapsed, and the wing was damaged. The aircraft came to rest with bent struts on the floats, a propeller strike on the float, and wingtip contact with the ground after the float struts gave way.

Pilot Report

The pilot reported that upon slide out, the aircraft turned abruptly 90 degrees, side loading the floats. This resulted in bending struts, the propeller striking a float, and the wingtip striking the ground when the float struts gave way. The pilot stated there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane.

Witness Account

A witness who worked at the airport reported that the grass field adjacent to the airport had been mowed so the pilot could land. The witness also stated that the pilot was the first person to land on the grass at that airport.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20010710X01352. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.