# NTSB FTW78DRA31: Piper J3C-65, N98155, Matagorda Pen, TX, July 2, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: July 2, 1978
- Place: Matagorda Pen, TX · MATAGORDA PEN, TX
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report August 2, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 141354
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW78DRA31
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW78DRA31

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1650   78/7/2    MATAGORDA PEN,TX    PIPER J3C-65        CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 34, 565
        TIME - 0740                    N98155              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 122 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          MATAGORDA PEN,TX            LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           GEAR COLLAPSED                                           LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - MISCELLANEOUS: POWERPLANT FAILURE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS
           TERRAIN - ROUGH/UNEVEN
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N98155](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N98155-2013-05-30), registration cancelled 2013-05-30, S/N 18315, built 1946 (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: Destroyed

## 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 19780702016379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780702016379A), Jul 2, 1978: Piper J3C65, Matagorda Pen, TX, Destroyed

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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