Looking N98442...

[Mikeamondo]

Anyone know how I could find out the fate of the Taylorcraft my Dad flew back in the 1960's? All I know is that ist was numbered N98442 and was owned and flown by a flying club in the Panama Canal Zone in '65 and '66. The only phone I've seen of it, it was painted white with blue stripes.

Any ideas on how to track down whatever happened to this plane?

thanks,
Mike

[mhorowit]

Re: Looking N98442...

The FAA has a db of airmen and their planes at http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/

A query for that N number brings up: "N98442 is not Assigned/Reserved"

I don't know what that implies;
However, a google for N98442 shows that it was a Cessna and was involved in an accident:

NTSB Identification: CHI83LA033
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Monday, November 08, 1982 in EVANSVILLE, IN
Probable Cause Approval Date: 11/8/1983
Aircraft: CESSNA 421C, registration: N98442
Injuries: 3 Uninjured.

DURING 100 HOUR INSPECTION A LEAK WAS FOUND IN THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR ACTUATOR. THE SEALS WERE REPLACED AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS TEST FLOWN. THE GEAR DOWN GREEN LIGHT WOULD NOT COME ON DURING THE TEST BUT THE AIRCRAFT WAS LANDED UNEVENTFULLY AND PUT ON JACKS FOR TESTING OF THE GEAR. ALL OK AFTER ONE LIMIT SWITCH WAS REPLACED. DURING THE NEXT TEST AFTER A LANDING THE LEFT GEAR COLLAPSED. THE LEFT ACTUATOR HAD FAILED.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:
LANDING GEAR,NORMAL RETRACTION/EXTENSION ASSEMBLY..FAILURE,TOTAL

How it went from being assigned to a Tcraft to a Cessna would be interesting; you sure of the N number? - MikeH

[Mikeamondo]

Re: Looking N98442...

Yeah... the N number is correct. I have a photo of the plane with my Mom standing in front of it in '65. I believe that once an airplane is destroyed, or not renewed for some other reason, it's N number is returned to the list of available numbers. I have, just for fun, occasionally used the same search function to look up planes in old magazines (I know... get a life / plane)... and it is common for the number to now be assigned to a different plane that what is shown in the magazines.

One possibility here would be that the plane is still flying, but now under a Panamanian registration.... of course, according to my Dad, she was well used in '65!

[flybikefarm]

Re: Looking N98442...

See if you can find the serial number. Some times the n numbers and serial numbers run together. The plane with the n number before mine is one serial number less. George

[Mikeamondo]

Re: Looking for N98442...

Well... I've got a little bit more information. The aircraft was owned by the Cross Roads Flying Club, and was flown from Old France Field in Colon, Panama Canal Zone. From the high N number, I assume it to be a BC12...

Per the previous suggestion, I searched N numbers in sequence up and down from 98442... most came up as Piper J3C's, I'm assuming because both planes were being manufactured in good numbers in that era.

I also sent an email to the FAA registration folks to ask about searching historical N numbers... meaning the complete history of all aircraft to which a particular number has ever been assigned. Not surprisingly, I've not heard back yet.... Anyone know if that type of search is available?

--Mike