# NTSB DEN81FTA14: Piper PA-18, N4432Z, Zortman, MT, September 19, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: September 19, 1981
- Place: Zortman, MT · ZORTMAN, MT
- Location: 47.9167° N, 108.5090° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Zortman, MT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.9167&lon=-108.5090&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report October 29, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 123298
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN81FTA14
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN81FTA14

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2469  81/9/19    ZORTMAN,MT          PIPER PA-18         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 25, 172
        TIME - 1030                    N4432Z              PX-  0  0  1  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 40 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - ZORTMAN
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          LANDUSKY,MT                 ZORTMAN,MT
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           STALL: MUSH                                              IN FLIGHT: LOW PASS
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO OBTAIN/MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4432Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4432Z), registered now, S/N 18-8771 (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
- Airport: Zortman

## 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 19810919059829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810919059829A), Sep 19, 1981: Piper PA18150, Zortman, MT, Substantial damage. Stalled on pull-up climbing turn after a low pass over runway. Left wing struck ground and cartwheeled.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.