# NTSB ANC74GAG10: Piper J3, N70656, Wasilla, AK, July 22, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: July 22, 1973
- Place: Wasilla, AK · WASILLA, AK
- Location: 61.5785° N, 149.4763° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Wasilla, AK, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.5785&lon=-149.4763&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 23, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 189184
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC74GAG10
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC74GAG10

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2533  73/7/22    WASILLA,ALAS        PIPER J3            CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 49, 392
        TIME - 1050                    N70656              PX-  0  0  1  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, ALL IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - WASILLA
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          WASILLA,ALAS                SKWENTNA,ALAS
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: CLIMB TO CRUISE
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PERSONNEL - MAINTENANCE,SERVICING,INSPECTION: IMPROPER MAINTENANCE (MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           POWERPLANT - IGNITION SYSTEM: SPARK PLUG
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - UNDER TORQUED
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER OPERATION OF POWERPLANT & POWERPLANT CONTROLS
        PARTIAL POWER LOSS - PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER - 1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - PRECAUTIONARY LANDING OFF AIRPORT
        REMARKS- SPARKPLUG BLEW OUT INFLT.FAILED TO USE PWR AVAIL TO CLR TREES SHRT OF RWY.4HRS SINCE OVRHAUL.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N70656](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N70656), registered now, S/N 17676, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER J3
- Registry model: [Piper J3C-65](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3c-65) (registry code 7100510) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental C90 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (registry code 17009, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Wasilla

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19730722027669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730722027669A), Jul 22, 1973: Piper J3C65, Wasilla, AK, Substantial damage. Sparkplug blew out inflt. Failed to use pwr avail to clr trees shrt of rwy.4HRS since ovrhaul.

## Other investigations on N70656 (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ANC72DAG12](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC72DAG12-107190), Jun 28, 1972: Piper JC3-65 (N70656), Anchorage, AK, substantial damage

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.