# NTSB DEN81FTA07: Piper PA-18, N7474L, Billings, MT, May 15, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: May 15, 1981
- Place: Billings, MT · BILLINGS, MT
- Location: 45.7833° N, 108.5007° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Billings, MT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.7833&lon=-108.5007&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 September 1, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 125222
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN81FTA07
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN81FTA07

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1783  81/5/15  NR.BILLINGS,MT        PIPER PA-18         CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 0510                    N7474L              PX-  0  0  0  ASSOC CROP CTL ACTIVITY   AGE 31, 5550 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            602 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         BILLINGS,MT                  LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: FENCE,FENCEPOSTS                          TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SELECTED UNSUITABLE TERRAIN
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS - EVASIVE MANEUVER TO AVOID COLLISION
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - DOWNWIND
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL - 1000                       KIND OF OPERATION - SPRAYING CROPS
          KIND OF CROP - GRAIN FIELDS                              TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - LIQUID CHEMICAL-NONTOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                 GLOVES - USED
          GOGGLES - NOT USED                                       CRASH HELMET - AVAILABLE USED
          COCKPIT CRASHPAD - NOT INSTALLED                         CRASH BAR - NOT INSTALLED
          TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - BELLY                             TERRAIN-TYPE -ROLLING
        REMARKS- STRUCK FENCE POST AFTER MNVRG TO AVOID ROAD SIGN & PWR LN POLE.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7474L](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7474L), registered now, S/N 18-7509069, built 1975 (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 19810515026239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810515026239A), May 15, 1981: Piper PA18150, Billings, MT, Substantial damage. Lost directional control of airplane trying to avoid a sign on takeoff from a road. Struck a fence bordering road.

## Other investigations on N7474L (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 SEA07CA206](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA07CA206), Jul 16, 2007: Piper PA-18-150 (N7474L), Ontario, OR, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing and failure to maintain directional control during landing.

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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