# Accident 19971011031279A: Piper PA-18-150, Williston, ND, October 11, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 11, 1997
- Place: Williston, ND
- Damage: Destroyed
- Location: 48.1605° N, 103.6310° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.1605&lon=-103.6310&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9691P, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9691P) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-18-150 (registry code 7101828, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (OpenAirDocs)
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI98LA016](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA016) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971011031279A

## Narrative

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

ACFT LANDED ON THE MISSOURI RIVER DUE TO ADVERSE WEATHER, WILLISTON, ND. (-23) DEPARTED POPLAR, MONTANA AT 0845 FOR BISMARCK, ND (AIRCRAFT WAS BEING FERRIED TO HAINES, FL) ON 10/11/97 IN PA18-150 WITH FLOATS.  OPERATOR WAS FOLLOWING THE MISSOURI RIVER AS A ROUTE.  WEATHER HAD BEEN DETERIORATING AND GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE.  PILOT OPTED TO LAND THE AIRCRAFT ON THE RIVER BY A BOAT LANDING DUE TO VERY POOR VISIBILITY, THIS WAS APPROXIMATELY 25 MILES FROM WILLISTON, ND. UPON LANDING, A/C RIGHT FLOAT HIT AND WAS PUNCTURED BY RIVER DEBRIS.  A/C NOSED OVER, PILOT MANAGED TO GET OUT AND TO SAFETY. A/C DRIFTED DOWN RIVER, UNTIL IT WAS SECURED TO A TREE BY A LOCAL FISHERMAN.

## 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 CHI98LA016](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA016), Oct 11, 1997: Piper PA-18-150 (N9691P), Williston, ND, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's inadequate preflight planning/preparation, and his selection of an unsuitable area for landing. The adverse weather condition (low ceiling) and submerged object were related factors.

## Other reports on N9691P (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19930529015759I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930529015759I), May 29, 1993: Piper PA18150 (N9691P), Anchorage, AK. Engine failed in flight. Forced landing in a swamp. Found the fuel valve had seized.

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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