# NTSB CHI79FEC28: Piper J3L, N26769, Napoleon, MI, June 3, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: June 3, 1979
- Place: Napoleon, MI · NAPOLEON, MI
- Location: 42.1645° N, 84.2438° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Napoleon, MI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.1645&lon=-84.2438&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report July 18, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 135880
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI79FEC28
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI79FEC28

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1749   79/6/3    NAPOLEON,MI         PIPER J3L           CR-  0  1  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 45, 2000
        TIME - 1430                    N26769              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - MAULE
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          NAPOLEON,MI                 EATON RAPIDS,MI
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
           STALL                                                    LANDING: TRAFFIC PATTERN-CIRCLING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - FUEL SYSTEM: SELECTOR VALVES
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - BINDING
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FUEL SELECTOR POSITIONED BETWEEN TANKS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO OBTAIN/MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO FOLLOW APPROVED PROCEDURES,DIRECTIVES,ETC.
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - IMPROPER EMERGENCY PROCEDURES
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING ON AIRPORT/SEAPLANE BASE/HELIPT.
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- FUEL SHUTOFF VALVE PN 70781. PILOT ATTEMPTED 180 25 FT ABOVE GROUND LEVEL.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N26769](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N26769), registered now, S/N 4165, built 1940 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER J3L
- Registry model: [Piper J3L](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3l) (registry code 7100542) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-145B series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-145b-series) (registry code 41502, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Maule

## 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 19790603012119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790603012119A), Jun 3, 1979: Piper J3L, Napoleon, MI, Destroyed. Engine stopped after 25-FT AGL liftoff. Plt tried to bank acft,stalled, hit ground. Failed to assure fuel valve on.

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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