# Accident 20230708008519A: Piper PA-12, Judith Gap, MT, July 8, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 8, 2023, 12:00 local time
- Place: Judith Gap, MT
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 46.6595° N, 109.7439° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.6595&lon=-109.7439&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4135M, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4135M) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-12 (registry code 7101202, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-12) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-235 series (registry code 41505, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-12
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-235 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot, student
- Pilot flight hours: 349 total, 239 in this make and model, 16 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR23LA266](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA266) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230708008519A

## Narrative

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

PILOT STRUCK AN ELECTRICAL LINE SUPPORT POLE WITH RIGHT WING, ROTATED AND CONTINUED BACKWARDS UNTIL IMPACTING THE GROUND AND ROLLING INTO A SMALL COW POND.

## 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 WPR23LA266](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA266), Jul 8, 2023: Piper PA-12 (N4135M), Judith Gap, MT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's decision to take off on a soft field that exceeded the performance capabilities of the airplane, which resulted in an impact with a pole and terrain.

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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