# NTSB NYC68F0440: Piper J3C, N42821, Topsham, ME, April 13, 1968

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: April 13, 1968
- Place: Topsham, ME · TOPSHAM, ME
- Location: 43.9419° N, 69.9362° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Topsham, ME, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.9419&lon=-69.9362&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report July 9, 1968
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 110965
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC68F0440
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC68F0440

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1334  68/4/13    TOPSHAM,ME          PIPER J3C           CR-  0  1  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             STUDENT, AGE 28, 97 TOTAL
        TIME - 2330                    N42821              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  HOURS, ALL IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - BOWDOIN
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           UNDERSHOOT                                               LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED DISTANCE AND ALTITUDE
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - ATTEMPTED OPERATION BEYOND EXPERIENCE/ABILITY LEVEL
           PILOT IN COMMAND - ATTEMPTED OPERATION W/KNOWN DEFICIENCIES IN EQUIPMENT
        REMARKS- PLT HAD NO NIGHT FLIGHT EXPERIENCE. ACFT NOT EQUIPPED FOR NIGHT FLIGHT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N42821](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N42821-1971-01-12), registration cancelled 1971-01-12, S/N 15139 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER J3C
- Registry model: [Piper J3C-65](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3c-65) (registry code 7100510) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Bowdoin

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.