# NTSB FTW76FRD20: Piper J3C-65, N70421, Melville, LA, November 13, 1975

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: November 13, 1975
- Place: Melville, LA · MELVILLE, LA
- Location: 30.6920° N, 91.7505° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Melville, LA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.6920&lon=-91.7505&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 10, 1975
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 151841
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW76FRD20
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW76FRD20

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3394  75/11/13   MELVILLE,LA         PIPER J3C-65        CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 50, 282
        TIME - 1400                    N70421              PX-  0  0  1  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 144 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - HANK SHOELER STRP
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          OPELOUSAS,LA                MELVILLE,LA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           OVERSHOOT                                                LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
           GROUND-WATER LOOP-SWERVE                                 LANDING: ROLL
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED DISTANCE AND SPEED
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO INITIATE GO-AROUND
           MISCELLANEOUS - EVASIVE MANEUVER TO AVOID COLLISION
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - INTENTIONAL GROUND-WATER-LOOP-SWERVE
        FACTOR(S)
           PERSONNEL - MISCELLANEOUS-PERSONNEL: PASSENGER
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - POORLY PLANNED APPROACH
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          SCATTERED                                                UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  RELATIVE BEARING OF WIND
          NONE                                                     RIGHT CROSS WIND 068-112 DEGREES
        TEMPERATURE-F                                            WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
           85                                                      165
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           10                                                      VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- PAX INADVERTENTLY HIT THROTTLE. ACFT FLOATED,LND IN LAST THIRD OF RWY. AVOIDED DITCH. GUSTS TO 12K
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N70421](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N70421), registered now, S/N 17416 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER J3C-65
- 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
- Airport: Hank Shoeler Strp

## 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 19751113036759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19751113036759A), Nov 13, 1975: Piper J3C65, Melville, LA, Substantial damage. Pax inadvertently hit throttle. Acft floated,lnd in last third of rwy. Avoided ditch. Gusts to 12K

## Other investigations on N70421 (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 FTW68D0596](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW68D0596), May 27, 1968: Piper J3 (N70421), Andrews, LA, substantial damage

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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