# NTSB OAK79DVD26: Piper L-4B, N8358H, Smith River, CA, May 13, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: May 13, 1979
- Place: Smith River, CA · SMITH RIVER, CA
- Location: 41.9238° N, 124.1478° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Smith River, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9238&lon=-124.1478&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 28, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 135982
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK79DVD26
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK79DVD26

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0820  79/5/13    SMITH RIVER,CA      PIPER L-4B          CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 31, 300
        TIME - 1600                    N8358H              PX-  0  0  1  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 100 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - SHIP ASHORE
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          WILLOW CREEK,CA             GOLD BEACH,OR                SMITH RIVER,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           NOSE OVER/DOWN                                           LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SELECTED UNSUITABLE TERRAIN
           AIRPORTS/AIRWAYS/FACILITIES - AIRPORT CONDITIONS: HIGH VEGETATION
           AIRPORTS/AIRWAYS/FACILITIES - AIRPORT CONDITIONS: POORLY MAINTAINED RUNWAY SURFACE
        REMARKS- RUNWAY HAD HIGH GRASS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8358H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8358H-2014-12-22), registration cancelled 2014-12-22, S/N 43-1376 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER L-4B
- 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
- Airport: Ship Ashore

## 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 19790513010459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790513010459A), May 13, 1979: Piper L4, Smith River, CA, Substantial damage. Pilot landed on what he thought to be one foot high grass. It turned out to be three feet high. Acft nosed over.

## Other investigations on N8358H (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 SEA70D0051](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA70D0051), Jul 25, 1969: Piper J3C-65 (N8358H), Eugene, OR, 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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