# NTSB SEA70DWD18: Piper J-3, N98722, Bellingham, WA, June 6, 1970

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: June 6, 1970
- Place: Bellingham, WA · BELLINGHAM, WA
- Location: 48.7534° N, 122.4702° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Bellingham, WA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.7534&lon=-122.4702&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report March 22, 1971
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 124324
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA70DWD18
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA70DWD18

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2436   70/6/6    BELLINGHAM,WASH     PIPER J-3           CR-  0  0  1  INSTRUCTIONAL             STUDENT, AGE 17, 37 TOTAL
        TIME - 1600                    N98722              PX-  0  0  0  TRAINING                  HOURS, 24 IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - LAKE WHATCOM
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          BELLINGHAM,WASH             LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           UNDERSHOOT                                               LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED DISTANCE AND SPEED
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS
           PERSONNEL - FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR: INADEQUATE SUPERVISION OF FLIGHT
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        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                  WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
          NONE                                                     180
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           12                                                      VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- FLOAT EQUIPPED.WIND GUSTING 18K.HIT TREE APRX 100FT AGL ABT 100FT FROM SHORE LINE.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N98722](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N98722-1975-05-02), registration cancelled 1975-05-02, S/N 18951 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER J-3
- Registry model: [Piper J-3](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j-3) (registry code 7100502) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Lake Whatcom

## Other investigations on N98722 (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 SEA75AS040](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA75AS040), May 2, 1975: Piper J-3 (N98722), Missing Aircraft, destroyed, 1 fatal

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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