# NTSB NYC72FID26: Piper J3C-65, N6878H, Bedford, VA, April 16, 1972

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: April 16, 1972
- Place: Bedford, VA · BEDFORD, VA
- Location: 37.3400° N, 79.5141° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Bedford, VA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3400&lon=-79.5141&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report October 11, 1972
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 165839
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC72FID26
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC72FID26

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0397  72/4/16    BEDFORD,VA          PIPER J3C-65        CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 25, 2000
        TIME - 1317                    N6878H              PX-  0  1  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 105 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          BEDFORD,VA                  LYNCHBURG,VA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXERCISED POOR JUDGMENT
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          SCATTERED                                                 5000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      83
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          210                                                       16
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- ATTEMPTED T/O FROM FARM FLD WITH 75 DEG R X-WIND GUSTING TO 22K. DRIFTED INTO TREE.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6878H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6878H-2014-09-03), registration cancelled 2014-09-03, S/N 20096, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER J3C-65
- 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

## Other investigations on N6878H (1)

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.

- [NTSB MIA65D0101](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA65D0101), Apr 29, 1965: Piper J3C (N6878H), Winston-Salem, NC, substantial damage

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.