# NTSB DEN74DTC13: Piper PA-18, N4332Z, Wheatland, WY, September 16, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: September 16, 1973
- Place: Wheatland, WY · WHEATLAND, WY
- Location: 42.0517° N, 104.9595° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Wheatland, WY, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.0517&lon=-104.9595&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 7, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 188340
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN74DTC13
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN74DTC13

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3141  73/9/16    WHEATLAND,WYO       PIPER PA-18         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 28, 469
        TIME - 1440                    N4332Z              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 260 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          CASPER,WYO                  CHEYENNE,WYO
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: WIRES/POLES                               IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO SEE AND AVOID OBJECTS OR OBSTRUCTIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - FOG
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY RADIO
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                      1000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1 MILE OR LESS                                           NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          FOG                                                      IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR
        REMARKS- PLT FOLLOWED HIGHWAY I-25.ENTRD FOG MAKING 180 DEG TURN.HIT WIRE.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4332Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4332Z), registered now, S/N 18-8648, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18
- Registry model: [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (registry code 7101828) (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: Destroyed

## 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 19730916027949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730916027949A), Sep 16, 1973: Piper PA18150, Wheatland, WY, Substantial damage. Plt followed highway I-25.entrd fog making 180 deg turn. Hit wire.

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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