# NTSB LAX73FUM07: Naval Fcty N3N-3, N44951, Winterhaven, CA, October 21, 1972

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: October 21, 1972
- Place: Winterhaven, CA · WINTERHAVEN, CA
- Location: 32.7372° N, 114.6378° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Winterhaven, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7372&lon=-114.6378&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report March 20, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 168878
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX73FUM07
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX73FUM07

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3477  72/10/21   WINTERHAVEN,CALIF   NAVAL FCTY N3N-3    CR-  0  1  0  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 41, 8000
        TIME - 1545                    N44951              PX-  0  0  0  AERIAL APPLICATION        TOTAL HOURS, 1000 IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SOMERTON,ARIZ               LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: PROCEDURE TURNAROUND
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           SYSTEMS - FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEMS: RUDDER AND RUDDER TAB CONTROL SYSTEM
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - CHAFED
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - DISCONNECTED
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED       KIND OF OPERATION - SPRAYING CROPS
          KIND OF CROP - LETTUCE                                   TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - LIQUID CHEMICAL-TOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                 GLOVES - NOT USED
          GOGGLES - USED                                           CRASH HELMET - AVAILABLE USED
          COCKPIT CRASHPAD - NOT INSTALLED                         CRASH BAR - NOT INSTALLED
          TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - FORWARD OF PILOT                  TERRAIN-TYPE -LEVEL,FLAT
          ELEVATION-AREA BEING TREATED-FEET -  350                 SWATH RUN-HOW FLOWN - WIND CALM
          PROCEDURE TURNAROUND - THIRD 1/3 TURN
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- L RUDDER CABLE FAILED FROM MECHANICAL ABRASION WITH HOPPER DUMP CTL HANDLE.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N44951](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N44951-1973-06-25), registration cancelled 1973-06-25, S/N 4389 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: NAVAL FCTY N3N-3
- Registry model: [Naval Aircraft Factory N3N-3](https://openairdocs.org/model/naval-aircraft-factory-n3n-3) (registry code 6120202) (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.

---
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.