No fatalities

PIPER J3C-65 accident at Scheelite, CA, 19 Jun 2024

Scheelite, CA, United States

On June 19, 2024, a PIPER J3C-65 was involved in an aviation accident near Scheelite, CA. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot’s inadvertent entry to a box canyon where the airplane could not outclimb the rising terrain. 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 pilot’s inadvertent entry to a box canyon where the airplane could not outclimb the rising terrain.

— NTSB Determination

Contributing factors

PilotCapability exceededAwareness of condition

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 19 Jun 2024 PIPER J3C-65 accident near Scheelite, CA?

The pilot’s inadvertent entry to a box canyon where the airplane could not outclimb the rising terrain.

Were there any fatalities in the 19 Jun 2024 PIPER J3C-65 accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 19 Jun 2024 involved a PIPER J3C-65, at Scheelite, CA.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot’s inadvertent entry to a box canyon where the airplane could not outclimb the rising terrain.