# NTSB DEN81DTA03: Piper PA-18, N83312, Saco, MT, December 26, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: December 26, 1980
- Place: Saco, MT · SACO, MT
- Location: 48.4571° N, 107.3413° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Saco, MT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.4571&lon=-107.3413&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 16, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 129070
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN81DTA03
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN81DTA03

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3151  80/12/26 NR.SACO,MT            PIPER PA-18         CR-  0  0  1  MISCELLANEOUS             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1130                    N83312              PX-  0  0  1  HUNTING                   AGE 52, 20000 TOTAL
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            HOURS, 2500 IN TYPE,
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          MALTA,MT                   SACO,MT
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: SNOWBANK                                  LANDING: ROLL
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SELECTED UNSUITABLE TERRAIN
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - SNOW-COVERED
        REMARKS- HIT SNOW BANK DRG OFF ARPT LNDG.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N83312](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N83312), registered now, S/N 18-7609074, built 1976 (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: 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 19801226076509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19801226076509A), Dec 26, 1980: Piper PA18150, Saco, MT, Substantial damage. Landed in partially snow covered field. Struck snowbank and flipped over.

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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