# Accident 20121211027059A: Piper PA-18-150, Okaton, SD, December 11, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 11, 2012, 09:00 local time
- Place: Okaton, SD
- Airport: Private Land
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 43.8861° N, 100.8919° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.8861&lon=-100.8919&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3471Z, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3471Z) (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 PA-18-150
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN13CA108](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13CA108) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20121211027059A

## Narrative

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

PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD LEFT THE HANGER DOORS OPEN ON SUNDAY, 12/08/12 AND THAT A LAYER OF SNOW APPROX. 8 INCHES THICK HAD ACCUMULATED ON THE TOP OF THE WINGS AFTER A STORM PASSED THROUGH THE AREA. ON 12/10/12 THE PILOT^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ PULLED THE AIRCRAFTOUT OF THE HANGER AND INTO THE DIRECT SUNLIGHT AFTER THE SNOW STORM SO THAT THE SUN WOULD MELT THE ACCUMULATED SNOW FROM THE TOP OF THE WINGS.  THE PILOT^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ DID NOTE THAT THE SNOW WAS MELTED FROM THE WINGS. THE PILOT/OWNER DID NOT RETURN THE AIRCARFT TO THE HANGER AND LEFT THE AIRCRAFT OUTSIDE FOR THE EVENING IN SUB ZERO TEMPATURES. ON THE MORNING OF 12/11/12 THE PILOT^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ JUMPED INTO THE AIRCRAFT WITHOUT A COMPLETE PREFLIGHT. AND TOOK OFF TO OBSERVE HIS CATTLE.IMMEDIATELY AFTER TAKEOFF THE AIRCARFT TOOK ON A LEFT WING DOWN ATTITUDE FROM WHICH THE PILOT^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT.AFTER LOSING ALTITUDE IN A LEFT WING DOWN ATTITUDE THE AIRCARFT STALLED AND WENT INTO A GROVE OF TREES NOSE DOWN .THE LEFT WING OF THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A LARGE LIMB CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO COME TO REST UPSIDE DOWN IN THE DIRECTION OF FLIGHT.

## 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 CEN13CA108](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13CA108), Dec 11, 2012: Piper PA-18-150 (N3471Z), Okaton, SD, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to perform an adequate preflight inspection of the airplane and obstruction of the aileron control system by snow and ice, which led to a loss of control during flight.

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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