# NTSB DEN80FA017: Piper PA-18, N3351A, Kelton, VT, January 19, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: January 19, 1980
- Place: Kelton, VT · KELTON, VT
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report August 21, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 131608
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN80FA017
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN80FA017

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1827  80/1/19  NR.KELTON,VT          PIPER PA-18         CR-  0  1  0  MISCELLANEOUS             PRIVATE, AGE 43, 3300
        TIME - 1315                    N3351A              PX-  1  0  0  HUNTING                   TOTAL HOURS, 2640 IN
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          TREMONTON,VT                LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           STALL                                                    IN FLIGHT: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - DIVERTED ATTENTION FROM OPERATION OF AIRCRAFT
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO OBTAIN/MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - TURBULENCE IN FLIGHT,CLEAR AIR
           WEATHER - DOWNDRAFT,UPDRAFTS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        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                                                      35
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          315                                                       20
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- WHILE COYOTE HUNTING,ENCTRD DWNDFT DRG CLB OVR 200FT LAVA RIM.ATMTD TURN,CRASHED BFR CLRG RIM.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3351A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3351A-2018-03-16), registration cancelled 2018-03-16, S/N 18-2982, built 1953 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18
- Registry model: [Piper PA-18A-135](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18a-135) (registry code 7101822) (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 19800119001919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800119001919A), Jan 19, 1980: Piper PA18A, Kelton, UT, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. Aircraft crashed during low level flight while hunting coyotes.

## Other investigations on N3351A (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 DEN75FTM03](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN75FTM03), Jul 2, 1974: Piper PA-18 (N3351A), Tremonton, UT, substantial damage

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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