# Accident 19961010031479A: Piper PA18150, Holden, UT, October 10, 1996

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 10, 1996, 07:55 local time
- Place: Holden, UT
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Low Level Operations
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.1394° N, 112.3406° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1394&lon=-112.3406&mi=10
- Aircraft: N91017, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N91017-2015-04-30) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-18-150 (registry code 7101828, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA18150
- Reported engine: LYC O320B2B
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Pilot flight hours: 587 total, 461 in this make and model, 50 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA97GA008](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA97GA008) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961010031479A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

THE FIRST PILOT, SEATED IN THE FRONT SEAT OF THE PUBLIC USE AIRPLANE, WAS BANKING THE AIRPLANE TO THE LEFT WHILE FLYING IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE GROUND OVER AN OPEN FIELD IN PURSUIT OF RUNNING COYOTE. THE FIRST PILOT WAS IN THE SECOND PHASE OF AN AGENCY TRAINING PROGRAM. THE SECOND PILOT, ACTING AS A PART TIME INSTRUCTOR PILOT/GUNNER AND SEATED IN THE REAR SEAT, WAS POINTING A SHOTGUN OUTSIDE THE AIRPLANE IN AN ATTEMPT TO KILL THE COYOTE AS PER THE AGENCYS AERIAL HUNTING PROGRAM. THE AIRPLANE AERODYNAMICALLY STALLED DURING THE MANEUVER AND ENTERED AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT. IT IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A NEAR VERTICAL INVERTED ALTITUDE AND WAS DESTROYED. AN EXAMINATION OF THE AIRFRAME AND ENGINE DID NOT REVEAL ANY EVIDENCE OF PREIMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS. THE AIRPLANE WAS ABOUT 75 PUNDS OVER ITS PUBLISHED MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT, AND THE DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS ABOUT 6500 FEET DURING THE ACCIDENT. UNAPPROVED MODIFICAITONS TO THE AIRPLANE AND INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE RECORD KEEPING BY THE OPERATOR WERE FOUND DURING THE INVESTIGATION. THE SECOND PILOTS THROTTLE HANDLE WAS NOT INSTALLED IN THE THROTTLE CONTROL AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (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 SEA97GA008](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA97GA008), Oct 10, 1996: Piper PA-18-150 (N91017), Holden, UT, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The first pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while maneuvering the airplane in close proximity to the ground. This subsequently led to an aerodynamic stall and uncontrolled descent into…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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