# NTSB CHI70D0136: Piper J3C-65, N98045, Midland, MI, July 28, 1969

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: July 28, 1969
- Place: Midland, MI · MIDLAND, MI
- Location: 43.6156° N, 84.2472° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Midland, MI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.6156&lon=-84.2472&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 18, 1970
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 167089
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI70D0136
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI70D0136

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3290  69/7/28    MIDLAND,MICH        PIPER J3C-65        CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 44, 269
        TIME - 1800                    N98045              PX-  0  0  1  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 171 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - ALLEN STRIP
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          MIDLAND,MICH                ST.HELEN ARPT
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXERCISED POOR JUDGMENT
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
           WEATHER - DOWNDRAFT,UPDRAFTS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      75
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          360                                                       10
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- PLTS 900 FT E/W TURF STRIP. AFTER T/O TO W ENCOUNTERED DOWNDRAFT FROM TREES TO N.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N98045](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N98045), registered now, S/N 18192 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER J3C-65
- Registry model: [Piper J3C-65](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3c-65) (registry code 7100510) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Allen Strip

## Other investigations on N98045 (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 CHI76FEM42](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI76FEM42), May 20, 1976: Piper J-3 (N98045), Sparta, MI, 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.

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