# NTSB SEA75AS038: Piper J-3C, N48312, Ellensburg, WA, April 6, 1975

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: April 6, 1975
- Place: Ellensburg, WA · ELLENSBURG, WA
- Location: 47.0001° N, 120.5495° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Ellensburg, WA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.0001&lon=-120.5495&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 26, 1975
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 148104
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA75AS038
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA75AS038

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1328   75/4/6  NR.ELLENSBURG,WA      PIPER J-3C          CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 28, 213
        TIME - 1344                    N48312              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 83 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - BOWERS FIELD
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         ELLENSBURG,WA                LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED CLEARANCE
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - DOWNDRAFT,UPDRAFTS
           TERRAIN - ROUGH/UNEVEN
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - UNWARRANTED LOW FLYING
        WEATHER BRIEFING - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        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 DIRECTION-DEGREES
          NONE                                                     270
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- RIDGE SAILPLANING.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N48312](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N48312-1975-08-07), registration cancelled 1975-08-07, S/N G-99 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER J-3C
- Registry model: [Piper J3C-65](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3c-65) (registry code 7100510) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Bowers Field

## 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 19750406016739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19750406016739A), Apr 6, 1975: Piper J3C65, Ellensburg, WA, Destroyed. Ridge sailplaning.

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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