# NTSB CHI78DET12: Piper PA-18A, N4490A, Three Oaks, MI, February 10, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: February 10, 1978
- Place: Three Oaks, MI · THREE OAKS, MI
- Location: 41.7985° N, 86.6139° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Three Oaks, MI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7985&lon=-86.6139&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 10, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 158594
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI78DET12
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI78DET12

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0273  78/2/10    THREE OAKS,MI       PIPER PA-18A        CR-  0  0  2  INSTRUCTIONAL             ATP,FLIGHT INSTR., AGE
        TIME - 1320                    N4490A              PX-  0  0  0  DUAL                      61, 12230 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            300 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          THREE OAKS,MI               LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: SWATH RUN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED CLEARANCE
           TERRAIN - SNOW-COVERED
        REMARKS- INSTRUCTOR DEMONSTRATING AG SPRAY RUN.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4490A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4490A), registered now, S/N 18-4856, built 1956 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18A
- Registry model: [Piper PA-18A](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18a) (registry code 7101804) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19780210003599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780210003599A), Feb 10, 1978: Piper PA18A, Three Oaks, MI, Substantial damage. Instructor demonstrating ag spray run.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.