# NTSB LAX70AL075: Piper J3C-65, N1553N, Ventura, CA, June 21, 1970

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: June 21, 1970
- Place: Ventura, CA · VENTURA, CA
- Location: 34.2678° N, 119.2542° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2678&lon=-119.2542&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report August 25, 1970
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 126327
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX70AL075
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX70AL075

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0800  70/6/21    VENTURA,CALIF       PIPER J3C-65        CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE UNK/NR,
        TIME - 1345                    N1553N              PX-  2  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  9709 TOTAL HOURS, 281 IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - VENTURA COUNTY
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          VENTURA,CALIF              UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: ELECTRONIC TOWERS                         IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO SEE AND AVOID OBJECTS OR OBSTRUCTIONS
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY RADIO
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                      800
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          2 MILES OR LESS                                          NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          FOG                                                      IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- HIT 305 FT RADIO TOWER.PLT DEPARTED ARPT,CONTROL ZONE ON SPEC VFR CLEARANCE.TOWER,EQUIP SUB DMG.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1553N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1553N-1971-12-14), registration cancelled 1971-12-14, S/N 23083 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER J3C-65
- Registry model: [Piper J3C-65](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3c-65) (registry code 7100510) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Ventura County

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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