# NTSB CHI87FA012: Piper PA-18-150, N4875A, Int'L Falls, MN, October 25, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: October 25, 1986, 13:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place: Int'L Falls, MN
- Coordinates: 48.579109, -93.399726 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.5791&lon=-93.3997&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 13618
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI87FA012
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/13618/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI87FA012

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - turn to reverse direction
  - proper altitude - not used, pilot in command (cause)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed(vs) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - ostentatious display, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
- Fire, other

## Analysis

THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED MANEUVERING OVER THE PASSENGERS HOUSE JUST PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE PLT CIRCLED THE RESIDENCE WITH THE ACFT WINGS ALMOST PERPENDICULAR TO THE GROUND AT AN ALT BETWEEN 150 AND 200 FT AGL. ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, AS THE WINGS REACHED THE PERPENDICULAR POSITION, THE ACFT ENTERED A SPIRAL AND DESCENDED TO GROUND IMPACT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4875A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4875A-1989-07-12), registration cancelled 1989-07-12, S/N 184974 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18-150
- Registry model: [Piper PA-18A 150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18a-150) (registry code 7101837) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18-4974
- Airframe hours: 1519
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Clarence F. Lablanc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 12, 1986, 36 hours before
- Destination: RLA, INT'L FALLS, MN

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, expired; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 563 total, 512 in this make and model, 533 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 80° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: INL, 4 nm away

## 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 19861025051379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19861025051379A), Oct 25, 1986: Piper STCPA18, Intl Falls, MN, Destroyed, 1 fatal. The float equipped aircraft stalled at low altitude and impacted the ground. Pilot was operating at unsafe altitude.

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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