Piper J3C-65 Substantially Damaged in Connecticut Forced Landing

A vintage Piper J3C-65, registration N331JM, was substantially damaged June 2, 2026, after a forced landing in a farm field near East Granby, Connecticut. The aircraft was operated as a personal flight under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The pilot and one passenger escaped without injury, according to National Transportation Safety Board data.

The pilot reported noticing a slight engine RPM drop when the airplane was approximately 400 feet above ground level shortly after takeoff from Simsbury Airport. As the RPM continued to fall, the pilot turned back toward the airport. The engine lost power completely at roughly 200 feet AGL, leaving no option but a forced landing in a flower field near Wolcott Road. During rollout, the aircraft struck a greenhouse, causing partial landing gear collapse and substantial damage to the engine mount.

The NTSB has retained the aircraft for further examination to determine the cause of the engine failure; no probable cause has been established. Connecticut State Police and the Federal Aviation Administration also responded to the scene, according to local reports. The accident is among a recent series of low-altitude engine failures involving small piston aircraft in the Northeast, including a separate Cessna 172 incident at a campground in Plymouth, Connecticut.