# NTSB OAK72AP017: Taylorcraft DC-65, N47545, Mariposa, CA, December 4, 1971

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: December 4, 1971
- Place: Mariposa, CA · MARIPOSA, CA
- Location: 37.4912° N, 119.9732° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Mariposa, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.4912&lon=-119.9732&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report May 26, 1972
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 164985
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK72AP017
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK72AP017

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3884   71/12/4   MARIPOSA,CALIF      TAYLORCRAFT DC-65   CR-  0  1  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 45, 556
        TIME - 1420                    N47545              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 2 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - MARIPOSA
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          MARIPOSA,CALIF              LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           FIRE OR EXPLOSION: IN FLIGHT                             LANDING: TRAFFIC PATTERN-CIRCLING
           COLLIDED WITH: WIRES/POLES                               LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PERSONNEL - MISCELLANEOUS-PERSONNEL: PASSENGER
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FIRE IN CABIN,COCKPIT,BAGGAGE COMPARTMENT
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           AIRFRAME - FUSELAGE: OTHER
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ALCOHOLIC IMPAIRMENT OF EFFICIENCY AND JUDGMENT
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        REMARKS- PAX CIGARETTE OR MATCH CAUGHT FABRIC WITH SILVER NITRATE BASE ON FIRE.PAX B/A LEVEL 0.17 PCT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: N47545 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: TAYLORCRAFT DC-65
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Mariposa

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.