# NTSB DEN73DTC02: Piper PA-18, N1636A, Belle Frche, SD, July 21, 1972

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: July 21, 1972
- Place: Belle Frche, SD · BELLE FRCHE, SD
- Location: 44.6638° N, 103.8591° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Belle Fourche, SD, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.6638&lon=-103.8591&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 28, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 167512
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN73DTC02
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN73DTC02

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2528  72/7/21  NR.BELLE FRCHE,S DAK  PIPER PA-18         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             STUDENT, AGE 25, 97 TOTAL
        TIME - 0800                    N1636A              PX-  0  0  0  BUSINESS                  HOURS, ALL IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         BELLE FRCHE,S DAK            LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SELECTED UNSUITABLE TERRAIN
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO ABORT TAKEOFF
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           WEATHER - HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE
           TERRAIN - HIGH VEGETATION
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      65
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- BEGAN T/O FROM TRAIL INTO TALL WET GRASS.ABORTED,THEN CONT T/O.DENSITY ALT 4950 FT.PLTS OWN RANCH.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1636A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1636A), registered now, S/N 18-1281, built 1952 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18
- Registry model: [Piper PA-18](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18) (registry code 7101802) (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

## Other investigations on N1636A (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 DEN76AD031](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN76AD031), Feb 14, 1976: Piper PA-18 (N1636A), Colony, WY, destroyed, 1 fatal

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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