# NTSB DEN78FTE17: Piper J3, N32648, Greeley, CO, December 4, 1977

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: December 4, 1977
- Place: Greeley, CO · GREELEY, CO
- Location: 40.4233° N, 104.7091° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Greeley, CO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4233&lon=-104.7091&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 January 17, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 144408
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN78FTE17
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN78FTE17

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3756   77/12/4   GREELEY,CO          PIPER J3            CR-  0  1  0  MISCELLANEOUS             PRIVATE, AGE 24, 685
        TIME - 0802                    N32648              PX-  0  0  0  FERRY                     TOTAL HOURS, 76 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - WELD COUNTY
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          GREELEY,CO                  FT.COLLINS,CO
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
           STALL: MUSH                                              LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PERSONNEL - MAINTENANCE,SERVICING,INSPECTION: INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FUEL CONTAMINATION-EXCLUSIVE OF WATER IN FUEL
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO OBTAIN/MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        REMARKS- DIRT AND DEBRIS FOUND IN GASCOLATOR.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N32648](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N32648-2020-10-03), registration cancelled 2020-10-03, S/N 5517, built 1940 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER J3
- Registry model: [Piper J3L-65](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3l-65) (registry code 7100546) (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: Weld County

## 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 19771204038109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19771204038109A), Dec 4, 1977: Piper J3L65, Greeley, CO, Destroyed. Dirt and debris found in gascolator.

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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