# NTSB CEN23LA210: Piper PA-18-150, N7343L, St. Anthony, ND, May 30, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: May 30, 2023, 07:44 local (12:44 UTC)
- Place: St. Anthony, ND
- Coordinates: 46.5983, -100.9408
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.5983&lon=-100.9408&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA Fargo FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 192271
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA210
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192271/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192271
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA210

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from terrain while maneuvering at low attitude.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 160 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 115 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that while conducting wildlife damage management activities under contract with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, he entered a right 180-degree turn in order to reverse direction and position the airplane. The airplane heading prior to the turn was into a slight right quartering headwind and required a climb due to up-sloping terrain. About 160 degrees into the right turn, the right quartering headwind became a left quartering tailwind. The airplane descended and contacted the ground. On contact, the nose of the airplane pitched forward and struck the ground. The airplane then bounced, cartwheeled, and came to rest approximately 105 ft from the initial ground contact, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage, both wings, and the empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7343L](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7343L), registered now, S/N 18-7509049, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18-150
- Registry model: [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (registry code 7101828) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O-320-A2B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-320-a2b) (registry code 42101, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18-7509049
- Year built: 1975
- Airframe hours: 13075.5
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-B2B 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Public aircraft - federal, Public use
- Operator: Air Dakota Flite Inc
- Registered owner: Air Dakota Flite Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 25, 2023, 96.7 hours before
- Departed: Y19, Mandan, ND
- Flight plan: Company VFR
- Equipment: Satellite tracking device, ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 30; injuries: minor; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 21, 2023; seat: front; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 3,939 total, 815 in this make and model, 3,834 as pilot in command, 300 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 29.80 inHg
- Observed at: KBIS, 13 nm away
- METAR: KBIS 301252Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 15/13 A2980 RMK AO2 SLP091 T01500133

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20230530007179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230530007179A), May 30, 2023: Piper PA-18-150, St. Anthony, ND, Substantial damage. The pilot in command (PIC) was conducting preditor control operations. The PIC and rear gunner spotted a target in the field below. The PIC entered a steep…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 17, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192271. 7.7 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16013041&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120%20(N7343L)%20Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 3.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16012164&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Docket%20Photos%20(CEN23LA210)-Rel.pdf
- Flight summary (item 3, PDF, 12 pages, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16012822&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Flight%20Summary%20-%20N7343L%20-%2031-May-2023-Rel.pdf

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.

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