# NTSB OAK76AP006: Douglas DC-3C, N423MB, Middletown, CA, August 23, 1975

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: August 23, 1975
- Place: Middletown, CA · MIDDLETOWN, CA
- Location: 38.7519° N, 122.6221° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Middletown, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7519&lon=-122.6221&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 5 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 31, 1975
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 150810
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK76AP006
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK76AP006

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2760  75/8/23    MIDDLETOWN,CA       DOUGLAS DC-3C       CR-  0  0  2  NONCOMMERCIAL             AIRLINE TRANSPORT, AGE
        TIME - 1400                    N423MB              PX-  0  0  3  BUSINESS                  61, 6056 TOTAL HOURS, 692
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - 7M RANCH
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          MIDDLETOWN,CA               LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           GROUND-WATER LOOP-SWERVE                                 TAKEOFF: RUN
           GEAR COLLAPSED                                           TAKEOFF: ABORTED
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           TERRAIN - ROUGH/UNEVEN
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
        WEATHER BRIEFING - SELF-HELP,PILOT CHECKED WEATHER DATA
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        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                  RELATIVE BEARING OF WIND
          NONE                                                     RIGHT CROSS WIND 068-112 DEGREES
        TEMPERATURE-F                                            WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
           98                                                       45
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           10                                                      VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- GUSTING TO 45K. HIT FENCE & DITCH.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N423MB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N423MB-1980-09-04), registration cancelled 1980-09-04, S/N 27079, built 1945 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DOUGLAS DC-3C
- Registry model: [Douglas DC3C](https://openairdocs.org/model/douglas-dc3c) (registry code 3021457) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: 7m Ranch

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19750823031499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19750823031499A), Aug 23, 1975: Doug DC3C, Middletown, CA, Substantial damage. Gusting to 45K. Hit fence & ditch.

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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