# NTSB DEN76FTC22: Piper J-3, N98698, Gillette, WY, December 13, 1975

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: December 13, 1975
- Place: Gillette, WY · GILLETTE, WY
- Location: 44.2726° N, 105.4989° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Gillette, WY, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.2726&lon=-105.4989&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report January 15, 1976
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 151735
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN76FTC22
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN76FTC22

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3746  75/12/13 NR.GILLETTE,WY        PIPER J-3           CR-  0  0  1  MISCELLANEOUS             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1540                    N98698              PX-  0  1  0  HUNTING                   AGE 39, 3610 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            55 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         GILLETTE,WY                  LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           HARD LANDING                                             LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - MISCELLANEOUS: POWERPLANT FAILURE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER LEVEL OFF
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - CONDITIONS CONDUCIVE TO CARB./INDUCTION SYSTEM ICING
           TERRAIN - ROUGH/UNEVEN
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  1000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          4 MILES OR LESS                                          SNOW
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      17
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          360                                                       5
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- ENGINE STARTED & RAN SATISFACTORILY AFTER ACCDT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N98698](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N98698), registered now, S/N 18928, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER J-3
- 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

## 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 19751213038499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19751213038499A), Dec 13, 1975: Piper J3C65, Gillette, WY, Substantial damage. Engine started & ran satisfactorily after accdt.

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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