N23161

Valid registration

1939 PIPER J3C-50

Fixed wing single engineKnoxville, IARegistered Sep 9, 2026

N23161 is a 1939 Piper J3C-50 (fixed wing single engine) with serial number 2943, registered in Knoxville, IA. Its FAA registration is valid and runs until Sep 30, 2033; the renewal window opens on Mar 30, 2033. It is powered by a Cont Motor C85 SERIES rated at 85 hp. Its airworthiness certificate is in the standard class (normal), issued Apr 24, 1961. It is one of 13 J3C-50 aircraft in the FAA registry, 1 of them registered in Iowa. The NTSB accident database lists one record for this airframe since 2008, the latest on Jun 26, 2023.

2524days left
Registration expiresSep 30, 2033

Registration

FAA status
Valid registration
Expires
Sep 30, 2033
Registrant type
LLC
Registered owner
SHAWVER AVIATION LLC
Location
Knoxville, IA
Local FAA office (FSDO)
Des Moines FSDO (DSM FSDO) · (515) 289-3840
Certificate issued
Sep 9, 2026
Last FAA action
Sep 9, 2026
Mode S code (hex)
A20F7B
Mode S code (octal)
50407573
Official record
registry.faa.gov

Aircraft

Manufacturer
PIPER
Model
J3C-50
Type certificate (TCDS)
A-691 (Piper Aircraft Inc.)
Year manufactured
1939
Serial number
2943
Aircraft type
Fixed wing single engine
Engine type
Reciprocating
Engine
CONT MOTOR C85 SERIES (85 hp)
Engines / seats
1 / 2
Weight class
Up to 12,499 lb
Airworthiness
Standard since Apr 24, 1961
Approved operations
Normal

Public airports near Knoxville

AirportIDDistanceTowerFuel
Knoxville Municipal
Knoxville, IA
KOXV1 miNon-towered100LL, A
Pella Municipal
Pella, IA
KPEA10 miNon-towered100LL, A
Sully Municipal
Sully, IA
8C222 miNon-towered-

Straight-line distance from the registration city, from the FAA airport directory (NASR). The registry does not say where an aircraft is based.

NTSB accident and incident records

DatePlaceAircraft (as NTSB recorded it)DamageHighest injuryNTSB no.
Jun 26, 2023Elbert, COPiper J3C-50 this airframeSubstantialMinorCEN23LA277

From the NTSB aviation accident database (events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026), matched by N-number. An N-number can move between aircraft, so each row is checked against the serial number on the current registration.