# NTSB FTW71AF056: Piper J-3, N77552, Rio Grand Cty, TX, March 6, 1971

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: March 6, 1971
- Place: Rio Grand Cty, TX · RIO GRAND CTY, TX
- Location: 26.3810° N, 98.8215° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Rio Grande City, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.3810&lon=-98.8215&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report November 2, 1971
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 160263
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW71AF056
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW71AF056

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0267   71/3/6    RIO GRAND CTY,TEX   PIPER J-3           CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 47, 346
        TIME - 0732                    N77552              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 252 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - RICABY FIELD
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          RIO GRAND CTY,TEX          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
           STALL                                                    TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - MISCELLANEOUS: POWERPLANT FAILURE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO OBTAIN/MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N77552](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N77552-1991-09-16), registration cancelled 1991-09-16, S/N 22043 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER J-3
- Registry model: [Piper J3C-65](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3c-65) (registry code 7100510) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Ricaby Field

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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