# Accident 19980625015039A: Piper PA18150, Fargo, ND, June 25, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 25, 1998, 16:25 local time
- Place: Fargo, ND
- Airport: Hector International
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Low Level Operations
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: HFMG
- Location: 46.7898° N, 96.8408° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.7898&lon=-96.8408&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7174B, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7174B) (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 O320A1A
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,103 total, 303 in this make and model, 25 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI98LA220](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA220) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980625015039A

## Narrative

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

ACFT STRUCK A POWER LINE DURING AERIAL APPLICATION AND CRASHED INTO A FIELD. (.4) ON JUNE 25 1998, AT 1510 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME, A PIPER PA-18- 150, N7174B, OPERATED BY A PRIVATE PILOT COLLIDED WITH A POWERLINE AND THE TERRAIN DURING AN AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT OVER HIS OWN PROPERTY NEAR FARGO, NORTH DAKOTA.  THE PILOT WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED AND THE AIRPLANE WAS DESTROYED.  THE 14 CFR PART 137 FLIGHT WAS OPERATING IN VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS WITHOUT A FLIGHT PLAN.  THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM A PRIVATE AIRSTRIP IN FARGO, AT 1500 CDT. THE PILOT REPORTED HE LOADED THE AIRPLANE WITH FUNGICIDE AT HIS PRIVATE AIRSTRIP AND TOOK OFF TO SPRAY HIS WHEAT FIELD ONE AND A HALF MILES AWAY.  HE REPORTED HE WAS MAKING HIS FIRST SWATCH RUN WHEN THE AIRPLANE CONTACTED POWERLINES ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE FIELD.  THE AIRPLANE REMAINED AIRBORNE FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE QUARTER OF A MILE AT WHICH TIME IT DESCENDED TO IMPACT WITH THE TERRAIN. ACCORDING TO AN INSPECTOR FROM THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION FARGO, NORTH DAKOTA FLIGHT STANDARDS DISTRICT OFFICE THE AIRPLANE WAS AT AN ALTITUDE OF APPROXIMATELY 20 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND WHEN IT CONTACTED THE POWERLINE WITH THE TOP OF THE RUDDER.

## 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 CHI98LA220](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA220), Jun 25, 1998: Piper PA-18-150 (N7174B), Fargo, ND, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's failure to maintain clearance with the powerline during a swath run. A factor associated with the accident was the powerline.

## Other reports on N7174B (1)

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

- [Accident 19870728040199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870728040199A), Jul 28, 1987: Piper PA18150 (N7174B), Fargo, ND, Substantial damage. After instalation of a new spray tank, the aircraft hit trees during takeoff. Maximum gross weight was exceeded.

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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