# Accident 20141216022999A: Piper PA-18-150, Polson, MT, December 16, 2014

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 16, 2014, 16:30 local time
- Place: Polson, MT
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 47.6008° N, 114.2103° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.6008&lon=-114.2103&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5989Z, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5989Z-2018-03-30) (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 PA-18-150
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR15FA062](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR15FA062) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20141216022999A

## Narrative

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

ON DECEMBER 16, 2014, PIPER SUPERCUB N5989Z IMPACTED TERRAIN APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET BELOW THE RIDGE OF A  TERRAIN FEATURE.  AIRCRAFT HAD TWO OCCUPANTS ON BOARD.  ONE OCCUPANT WAS THE OWNER, WHO HOLDS A STUDENT PILOT CERTIFICATE.  THE OTHER OCCUPANT WAS A COMMERCIAL RATED PILOT, WHOM WAS FATALLY INJURED.  THE STATED REASON FOR THE FLIGHT WAS TO TRY OUT A NEWLY INSTALLED CLIMB PROP.  WRECKAGE DID NOT SHOW ANY SIGNS OF MECHANICAL FAILURES.  ONE WITNESS TO THE FLIGHT INDICATED HE HAD SEEN THE AIRCRAFT OVER HIS PROPERTY MANEUVERING AT ALTITUDES NO HIGHER THAN AN ESTIMATED 400 FEET AGL, AND OPERATING "THROUGH" GAPS IN THE SURROUNDING HILLS.  ANOTHER WITNESS WHO SAW THE IMPACT INDICATED THAT PRIOR TO IMPACT, THE AIRCRAFT CLEARED THE RIDGE FROM THE OPPOSITE SIDE BY A VERY NARROW MARGIN, THEN THE TOP OF WINGS BECAME VISIBLE QUICKLY AND IT IMPACTED TERRAIN.

## 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 WPR15FA062](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR15FA062), Dec 16, 2014: Piper PA 18-150 (N5989Z), Ronan, MT, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from terrain while performing an intentional, abrupt low-level maneuver.

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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