# NTSB CHI79DEX18: Piper PA-18, N3VU, Spencer, IN, March 24, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: March 24, 1979
- Place: Spencer, IN · SPENCER, IN
- Location: 39.2868° N, 86.7726° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Spencer, IN, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2868&lon=-86.7726&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 26, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 137431
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI79DEX18
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI79DEX18

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0489  79/3/24    SPENCER,IN          PIPER PA-18         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1205                    N3VU                PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  AGE 30, 295 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            22 IN TYPE, NOT
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          INDIANAPOLIS,IN             VINCENNES,IN
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           NOSE OVER/DOWN                                           LANDING: ROLL
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION
           TERRAIN - WET,SOFT GROUND
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - PRECAUTIONARY LANDING OFF AIRPORT
                                  ADVERSE/UNFAVORABLE WEATHER
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          BROKEN                                                    500
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          4 MILES OR LESS                                          SNOW SHOWERS
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
          BLOWING SNOW                                             260
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           16                                                      IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- PRECAUTIONARY LDNG IN MUDDY FIELD DUE TO SNOW SHOWERS IN AREA
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3VU](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3VU), registered now, S/N 18-3987, built 1954 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18
- Registry model: [Piper L-21B](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-l-21b) (registry code 7101815) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (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 19790324005119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790324005119A), Mar 24, 1979: Piper PA18, Spencer, IN, Substantial damage. Pilot made a precautionary landing due to low ceiling and visibility. Hit a soft spot and flipped over.

## Other investigations on N3VU (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 CHI99LA146](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI99LA146), May 10, 1999: Piper PA-18-L21B (N3VU), Vincennes, IN, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's failure to maintain directional control after landing. Factors which contributed to this accident were the pilot's long touchdown, the rough area on the runway, and the wheat field.

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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