# NTSB DEN66D0317: Piper PA-12, N3780M, Roswell, NM, May 12, 1966

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: May 12, 1966
- Place: Roswell, NM · ROSWELL, NM
- Location: 33.3734° N, 104.5294° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Roswell, NM, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3734&lon=-104.5294&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 June 16, 1966
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 172172
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN66D0317
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN66D0317

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1022  66/5/12    ROSWELL N MEX       PIPER PA-12         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1500                    N3780M              PX-  0  0  1  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  AGE 38, 1000 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            50 IN TYPE, NOT
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - ROSWELL MUNICIPAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: OBJECT                                    TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
           GEAR COLLAPSED                                           LANDING: ROLL
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED DISTANCE AND SPEED
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - PRECAUTIONARY LANDING ON AIRPORT
                                  SUSPECTED OR KNOWN AIRCRAFT DAMAGE
        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                                                      71
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          130                                                       5
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- LANDING GEAR STRUCK BUSH AND WAS DAMAGED DURING TAKE OFF FROM RANCH STRIP.COLLAPSED ON LANDING.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3780M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3780M), registered now, S/N 12-2710, built 1947 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-12
- Registry model: [Piper PA-12](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-12) (registry code 7101202) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Roswell Municipal

## Other investigations on N3780M (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 ANC99LA093](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA093), Jul 19, 1999: Piper PA-12 (N3780M), Dillingham, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The inadequate preflight by the pilot, which failed to detect water contamination of the airplane's fuel.

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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