# NTSB LAX68A0101: Aeronca 7AC, N3537E, Bakersfield, CA, May 19, 1968

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: May 19, 1968
- Place: Bakersfield, CA · BAKERSFIELD, CA
- Location: 35.3733° N, 119.0187° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Bakersfield, CA, within about 7 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.3733&lon=-119.0187&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report July 22, 1968
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 110204
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX68A0101
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX68A0101

## NTSB brief (aircraft 2)

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1578  68/5/19  NR.BAKERFIELD,CALIF   PIPER J-3           CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 21, 242
        TIME - 1415                    N57253              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 25 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  2  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH AIRCRAFT: BOTH IN FLIGHT                  IN FLIGHT: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PERSONNEL - MISCELLANEOUS-PERSONNEL: PILOT OF OTHER AIRCRAFT
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - ATTEMPTED OPERATION BEYOND EXPERIENCE/ABILITY LEVEL
         SPECIAL DATA
          SEGMENTS OF AVIATION INVOLVED - SMALL US GEN.AV.-SMALL US GEN.AV.
          CONTROLLING AGENCY - NO CONTROL                          RADAR CTL/SURVEILLANCE - NOT UNDER RADAR CONTACT
          TRAFFIC ADVISORY ISSUED - NONE                           CONTROL ZONE/AREA - NO
          CONVERGENCE ANGLE-DEGREES -  0                           HORIZONTAL COLLISION ANGLE-DEGREES -   0
          VERTICAL COLLISION ANGLE-DEGREES -  0                    EVASIVE ACTION TAKEN - NO
        REMARKS- FORMATION FLYING.STRUCK BY AERONCA N3537E.
```

## NTSB brief (aircraft 1)

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1578  68/5/19  NR.BAKERSFIELD,CALIF  AERONCA 7AC         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 26, 203
        TIME - 1415                    N3537E              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 135 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  2  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH AIRCRAFT: BOTH IN FLIGHT                  IN FLIGHT: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED CLEARANCE
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - ATTEMPTED OPERATION BEYOND EXPERIENCE/ABILITY LEVEL
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ALCOHOLIC IMPAIRMENT OF EFFICIENCY AND JUDGMENT
         SPECIAL DATA
          SEGMENTS OF AVIATION INVOLVED - SMALL US GEN.AV.-SMALL US GEN.AV.
          CONTROLLING AGENCY - NO CONTROL                          RADAR CTL/SURVEILLANCE - NOT UNDER RADAR CONTACT
          TRAFFIC ADVISORY ISSUED - NONE                           CONTROL ZONE/AREA - NO
          CONVERGENCE ANGLE-DEGREES -  0                           HORIZONTAL COLLISION ANGLE-DEGREES -   0
          VERTICAL COLLISION ANGLE-DEGREES -  0                    EVASIVE ACTION TAKEN - NO
        REMARKS- FORMATION FLYING.BLOOD ALCOHOL LEVEL 63 MG PCT.OVER TOOK,STRUCK PIPER N57253.
```

## Aircraft 1

- Registration: [N3537E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3537E-1971-01-15), registration cancelled 1971-01-15, S/N 7AC-6896 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AERONCA 7AC
- Registry model: [Aeronca 7AC](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-7ac) (registry code 2110102) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## Aircraft 2

- Registration: [N57253](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N57253-1968-08-22), registration cancelled 1968-08-22, S/N 8488, built 1942 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER J-3
- Registry model: [Piper J-3](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j-3) (registry code 7100502) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: 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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