# NTSB OAK72DVW12: Curtis Sull J T, N491C, Pioche, NV, September 25, 1971

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: September 25, 1971
- Place: Pioche, NV · PIOCHE, NV
- Location: 37.9520° N, 114.4435° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Pioche, NV, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.9520&lon=-114.4435&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 30, 1972
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 164296
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK72DVW12
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK72DVW12

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3901  71/9/25    PIOCHE,NEV          CURTIS SULL J T     CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 50, 600
        TIME - 1525                    N491C               PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 18 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          ELY,NEV                     CALIENTE,NEV
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: OBJECT                                    IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXERCISED POOR JUDGMENT
           WEATHER - DOWNDRAFT,UPDRAFTS
           WEATHER - HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          NONE                                                      17
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- WIND GUSTING 17K,DENS ALT ABT 8000FT.FOLLOWING ROAD IN HILLY TERRAIN,ENCNTRD DWNDRFT,HIT ROAD MRKR
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N491C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N491C-2015-05-15), registration cancelled 2015-05-15, S/N 1001, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CURTIS SULL J T
- Registry model: [Curtis-Sullivan 3](https://openairdocs.org/model/curtis-sullivan-3) (registry code 05611GJ) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Volkswagen CONVERSION](https://openairdocs.org/engine/volkswagen-conversion) (registry code 63501, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: 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.

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