# Accident 19980726024839A: Piper PA18A, Columbus, MT, July 26, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 26, 1998, 09:15 local time
- Place: Columbus, MT
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 45.6360° N, 109.2488° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Columbus, MT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.6360&lon=-109.2488&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1252C, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1252C) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-18A (registry code 7101804, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-290 series (registry code 41506, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA18A
- Reported engine: LYC O320*
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 226 total, 121 in this make and model, 16 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA98LA150](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA98LA150) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980726024839A

## Narrative

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

(.4)THE PILOT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING ROUGH, AND HE ELECTED TO MAKE AN OFF-FIELD PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. HE STATED THAT HE HAD CHECKED THE CARBURETOR HEAT AND MAGNETOS, AND HAD PUMPED THE THROTTLE; HOWEVER, HIS MEASURES WERE INSUFFICIENT TO IMPROVE THE SITUATION.  HE ELECTED TO MAKE HIS PRECAUTIONARY LANDING IN A HAYFIELD; BRAKING FOR THE SHORT FIELD AND OBSTRUCTIONS RESULTED IN THE AIRPLANE NOSING OVER.  FAA INSPECTORS INSPECTED THE AIRPLANE AND ENGINE AFTER IT WAS REMOVED FROM THE ACCIDENT SCENE AND FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF A MECHANICAL PROBLEM THAT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A ROUGH-RUNNING ENGINE.                                                                (-23) PILOT REPORTED MAKING EMERGENCY LANDING 14 MILES SOUTH OF COLUMBUS, MT. PILOT CLAIMED HE WAS HAVING ENGINE PROBLEMS WHICH LED TO THE EMERGENCY LANDING. THE FOLLOW-UP INVESTIGAION REVEALED NO ENGINE PROBLEMS OF ANY SORT. THE FUEL WAS ALSO GOOD. THE PILOTS IMPACTED THE RPM METER AT THE IMPACT A ND THE RPM METER WAS FROZE AT 2000 RPM. THE PROP SHOWED THE ENGINE WAS OPERATING AT IMPACK. I COULD FIND NO MECHANICAL REASON FOR THIS EMERGENCY LANDING.

## 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 SEA98LA150](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA98LA150), Jul 26, 1998: Piper PA-18 (N1252C), Columbus, MT, substantial damage. Probable cause: Partial loss of power for undetermined reasons. Factors include the pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for a precautionary landing.

## Other reports on N1252C (1)

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

- [Accident 19950617017949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950617017949A), Jun 17, 1995: Piper PA18A (N1252C), Laurel, MT, Substantial damage. Wheels caught in tall grass while dragging a field for possible landing sight. Noted over.

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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