19910718028999A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Piper J3C-65 · Patterson, CA · July 18, 1991

Date: July 18, 1991 · 19:45 local
Place: Patterson, CA
Phase of flight: Unauth Low Level Opns
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N23142
NTSB investigation: NTSBLAX91LA319
Reported as: Piper J3C65
Reported engine: Continental C8512F
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 508 total50 in this make and model26 in the last 90 days

N23142Registration cancelled Aug 2, 1993 · Piper J3C-65S/N 2923 Airframe modelPiper J3C-65

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Looking for cattle, descending for a closer look struck wires. Fell into a pond.

As the FAA filed it

LOOKING FOR CATTLE, DESCENDING FOR A CLOSER LOOK STRUCK WIRES. FELL INTO A POND.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB LAX91LA319Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPatterson, CAThe pilot-in-command's improper visual lookout in a descent at low altitude, resulting in an in flight collision with wires and subsequent in flight collision with terrain.Jul 19, 1991 · Substantial damage