# NTSB LAX77DUQ03: Piper J-3, N38108, Newhall, CA, October 10, 1976

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: October 10, 1976
- Place: Newhall, CA · NEWHALL, CA
- Location: 34.3847° N, 118.5309° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Newhall, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.3847&lon=-118.5309&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 4, 1976
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 155995
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX77DUQ03
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX77DUQ03

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2819  76/10/10 NR.NEWHALL,CA         PIPER J-3           CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 48, 634
        TIME - 1000                    N38108              PX-  0  0  1  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 161 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - MYSTERY MESA
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         NEWHALL,CA                   AGUA DULCE,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: FENCE,FENCEPOSTS                          TAKEOFF: ABORTED
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
        FACTOR(S)
           AIRPORTS/AIRWAYS/FACILITIES - AIRPORT CONDITIONS: OTHER
           WEATHER - DOWNDRAFT,UPDRAFTS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        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                  RELATIVE BEARING OF WIND
          NONE                                                     RIGHT QUARTERING HEAD WIND 023-067 DEGREES
        TEMPERATURE-F                                            WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
           85                                                       90
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           5                                                       VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- PILOT STATED ENCOUNTRD DWNDRFT.ELECTED TO ABORT SO WHEELS WOULD NOT CATCH CHAIN LINK FENCE.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N38108](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N38108), registered now, S/N 6807 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER J-3
- 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
- Airport: Mystery Mesa

## 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 19761010031889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19761010031889A), Oct 10, 1976: Piper J3C65, Newhall, CA, Substantial damage. Pilot stated encountrd dwndrft. Elected to abort so wheels would not catch chain link fence.

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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