# NTSB SEA74DTA14: Piper J-3, N70234, Culbertson, MT, November 21, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: November 21, 1973
- Place: Culbertson, MT · CULBERTSON, MT
- Location: 48.1451° N, 104.5163° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Culbertson, MT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.1451&lon=-104.5163&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 1, 1974
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 187755
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA74DTA14
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA74DTA14

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4086  73/11/21   CULBERTSON,MONT     PIPER J-3           CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             NO CERTIFICATE, AGE 71,
        TIME - 1000                    N70234              PX-  0  0  1  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  UNK/NR TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            UNK/NR IN TYPE, NOT
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          BAINVILLE,MONT              LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: OTHER
           GEAR COLLAPSED                                           LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - MISCELLANEOUS: POWERPLANT FAILURE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER LEVEL OFF
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
           TERRAIN - ROUGH/UNEVEN
           MISCELLANEOUS - UNQUALIFIED PERSON OPERATED AIRCRAFT
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        REMARKS- SPOTTING COYOTES.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N70234](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N70234), registered now, S/N 17210, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER J-3
- Registry model: [Piper J3C-65](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3c-65) (registry code 7100510) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19731121039189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19731121039189A), Nov 21, 1973: Piper J3C65, Culbertson, MT, Substantial damage. Spotting coyotes.

## Other investigations on N70234 (2)

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 BFO95LA039](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO95LA039), Apr 2, 1995: Piper J3-C65 (N70234), Bayport, NY, destroyed. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S IMPROPER POSITIONING OF THE FUEL SELECTOR.
- [NTSB SEA68D0165](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA68D0165), Oct 11, 1967: Piper J3C-65 (N70234), Richland, MT, 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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