# NTSB DEN83FTI03: Piper PA-18-150, N4610Y, Galen, MT, January 15, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report
- Date: January 15, 1983, 10:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place: Galen, MT
- Coordinates: 46.369281, -112.720649 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.3693&lon=-112.7206&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16018
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN83FTI03
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16018/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN83FTI03

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - low pass - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - diverted attention, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THE PLT CIRCLED AROUND SOME RANCH BUILDING, THEN BEGAN A STEEP CLIMBING TURN. THE PLT STATED THAT HE WAS MOMENTARILY DISTRACTED BY AN OUTSIDE OBSERVATION, THE CLIMB BECAME TOO STEEP, AND THE PLANE STALLED. THE PILOT INITIATED A RECOVERY, BUT THE ACFT HIT THE GROUND IN A WINGS LEVEL ATTITUDE WHILE STILL SETTLING, HE REPORTED THAT AFTER HITTING THE GROUND, THE ACFT BOUNCED THRU A FENCE, SLID DOWN A SLOPE ALONG ANOTHER FENCE AND CAME TO REST IN A DITCH.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4610Y](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4610Y), registered now, S/N 18-8940, built 1971 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18-150
- 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
- Serial number: 18-8940
- Airframe hours: 886
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Modesty Creek Livestock Ranch
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 22, 1982, 23 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 25; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 147 total, 94 in this make and model, 127 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 32 °F

## 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 19830115000979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830115000979A), Jan 15, 1983: Piper PA18S150, Galen, MT, Substantial damage. Stalled at a low altitude after buzzing farm house and nearby ravines. Recovered too late to avoid ground impact.

## Other investigations on N4610Y (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 SEA73DT117](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA73DT117), Feb 19, 1973: Piper PA-18 (N4610Y), Jackson, MT, 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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