# NTSB FTW78FPA02: Piper J3C-65, N42321, Terrell, TX, October 11, 1977

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: October 11, 1977
- Place: Terrell, TX · TERRELL, TX
- Location: 32.7360° N, 96.2753° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Terrell, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7360&lon=-96.2753&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 5, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 144632
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW78FPA02
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW78FPA02

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3685  77/10/11   TERRELL,TX          PIPER J3C-65        CR-  2  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 39, 700
        TIME - 1750                    N42321              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - WALLACE
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          TERRELL,TX                  LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           STALL: SPIRAL                                            IN FLIGHT: BUZZING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT
           MISCELLANEOUS - EVASIVE MANEUVER TO AVOID COLLISION
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ALCOHOLIC IMPAIRMENT OF EFFICIENCY AND JUDGMENT
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - UNWARRANTED LOW FLYING
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- BUZZED FLD IMMEDIATELY AFT TKOF.AVOIDED PWR LINES.PLT BLOOD ALCOHOL LEVEL 0.255%.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N42321](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N42321-1978-01-23), registration cancelled 1978-01-23, S/N 14571 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER J3C-65
- Registry model: [Piper J-3](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j-3) (registry code 7100502) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Wallace

## 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 19771011036499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19771011036499A), Oct 11, 1977: Piper J3C65, Terrell, TX, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Buzzed fld immediately aft tkof. Avoided pwr lines. Plt blood alcohol level 0.255 .

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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