# NTSB MIA79FA108: Piper J-3C65, N26147, Ft.Pierce, FL, July 22, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: July 22, 1979
- Place: Ft.Pierce, FL · FT.PIERCE, FL
- Location: 27.4256° N, 80.3404° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Fort Pierce, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.4256&lon=-80.3404&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report August 22, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 134154
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA79FA108
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA79FA108

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2571  79/7/22  NR.FT.PIERCE,FL       PIPER J-3C65        CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             NO CERTIFICATE, AGE 28,
        TIME - 1845                    N26147              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  UNK/NR TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            UNK/NR IN TYPE, NOT
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - NELSONS STRIP
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         FT.PIERCE,FL                 LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: BUZZING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INCAPACITATION
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ALCOHOLIC IMPAIRMENT OF EFFICIENCY AND JUDGMENT
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - UNWARRANTED LOW FLYING
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- BLOOD ALCOHOL LEVEL 0.334%
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N26147](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N26147), registered now, S/N 4086, built 1940 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER J-3C65
- 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: Destroyed
- Airport: Nelsons Strip

## 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 19790722025199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790722025199A), Jul 22, 1979: Piper J3C65, Ft Pierce, FL, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Pilot had an expired student pilot certificate. Hit a tree while buzzing his home.

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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