No fatalities

PIPER J3C-65 accident at Princeton, TX, 16 Jul 2023

Princeton, TX, United States

On July 16, 2023, a PIPER J3C-65 was involved in an aviation accident near Princeton, TX. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The student pilot’s decision to attempt a takeoff from an unimproved field which resulted in an impact with an obstacle. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-08-03Data APIEditorial standards

Probable cause

The student pilot’s decision to attempt a takeoff from an unimproved field which resulted in an impact with an obstacle.

— NTSB Determination

Contributing factors

Effect on equipmentCapability exceededStudent/instructed pilot

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 16 Jul 2023 PIPER J3C-65 accident near Princeton, TX?

The student pilot’s decision to attempt a takeoff from an unimproved field which resulted in an impact with an obstacle.

Were there any fatalities in the 16 Jul 2023 PIPER J3C-65 accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 16 Jul 2023 involved a PIPER J3C-65, at Princeton, TX.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The student pilot’s decision to attempt a takeoff from an unimproved field which resulted in an impact with an obstacle.