# NTSB IAD78FIG14: Piper J3C, N42442, Westport, MD, July 23, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: July 23, 1978
- Place: Westport, MD · WESTPORT, MD
- Location: 39.2621° N, 76.6355° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Westport, MD, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2621&lon=-76.6355&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 29, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 140603
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD78FIG14
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD78FIG14

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1892  78/7/23  NR.WESTPORT,MD        PIPER J3C           CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             ATP,FLIGHT INSTR., AGE
        TIME - 1133                    N42442              PX-  0  1  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  40, 13000 TOTAL HOURS, 25
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          FRONT ROYAL,VA              OAKLAND,MD
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           STALL: MUSH                                              IN FLIGHT: LOW PASS
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO OBTAIN/MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - UNWARRANTED LOW FLYING
           WEATHER - DOWNDRAFT,UPDRAFTS
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          NONE                                                     VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N42442](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N42442), registered now, S/N 14708, built 1945 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER J3C
- 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

## 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 19780723020189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780723020189A), Jul 23, 1978: Piper J3C65, Westport, MD, 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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.