# NTSB OAK70AP047: Piper J-3, N87820, Red Bluff, CA, March 20, 1970

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: March 20, 1970
- Place: Red Bluff, CA · RED BLUFF, CA
- Location: 40.1735° N, 122.2415° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Red Bluff, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1735&lon=-122.2415&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report August 5, 1970
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 134911
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK70AP047
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK70AP047

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0621  70/3/20    RED BLUFF,CALIF     PIPER J-3           CR-  1  0  0  MISCELLANEOUS             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 0620                    N87820              PX-  1  0  0  HUNTING                   AGE 30, 641 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            116 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - RANCHO TEHAMA
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          RED BLUFF,CALIF             LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           STALL                                                    IN FLIGHT: LOW PASS
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - DIVERTED ATTENTION FROM OPERATION OF AIRCRAFT
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO OBTAIN/MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- COYOTE HUNTING AT LOW ALT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N87820](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N87820-1970-06-30), registration cancelled 1970-06-30, S/N 15198 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER J-3
- Registry model: [Piper J3C-65](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3c-65) (registry code 7100510) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Rancho Tehama

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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