# NTSB CHI72FEM24: Piper J3, N78521, Otsego, MI, August 28, 1971

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: August 28, 1971
- Place: Otsego, MI · OTSEGO, MI
- Location: 42.4580° N, 85.6986° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Otsego, MI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4580&lon=-85.6986&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 11, 1972
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 163425
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI72FEM24
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI72FEM24

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3236  71/8/28    OTSEGO,MICH         PIPER J3            CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 30, 71 TOTAL
        TIME - 1430                    N78521              PX-  0  0  1  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  HOURS, 19 IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          ALLEGAN,MICH                OTSEGO,MICH
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           UNDERSHOOT                                               LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
           GEAR COLLAPSED                                           LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED DISTANCE AND ALTITUDE
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N78521](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N78521), registered now, S/N 22919, built 1947 (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 A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## Other investigations on N78521 (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 IAD01LA050](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD01LA050), Apr 29, 2001: Piper J3-C65 (N78521), Clarksburg, WV, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to perform fuel consumption calculations and incorrect positioning of the fuel tank selector, which resulted in fuel starvation of the engine.

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.