# NTSB DEN83LA194: Piper PA-12, N3351M, St. Xavier, MT, August 21, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 21, 1983, 09:00 local (15:00 UTC)
- Place: St. Xavier, MT
- Coordinates: 45.409271, -107.879096 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.4093&lon=-107.8791&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16140
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN83LA194
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16140/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN83LA194

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, go-around (vfr)
  - object - fence (contributing factor)
  - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor)
  - go-around - delayed, pilot in command (cause)
  - distance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A FENCE DURING AN ATTEMPTED GO-AROUND IN A FIELD WHICH WAS ESTIMATED TO BE 500 FT LONG. THE WIND WAS CALM AND THE DENSITY ALT WAS CALCULATED TO BE 4900 FT. AFTER LANDING AND ROLLING 300 FT THE PLT DECIDED HE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO STOP. HE APPLIED POWER TO GO-AROUND AND THE ENGINE COUGHED AND SPUTTERED. AFTER BECOMING AIRBORNE THE ENGINE COUGHED AGAIN. AT THE END OF THE FIELD THE LANDING GEAR OF THE ACFT HIT A FENCE POST AND THE ACFT NOSED OVER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3351M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3351M-2014-10-02), registration cancelled 2014-10-02, S/N 12-2210, built 1947 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-12
- Registry model: [Piper PA-12](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-12) (registry code 7101202) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 12-2210
- Airframe hours: 4621
- Engines: LYCOMING O-290-02 135 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Richard L. Kehler, Jr.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 19, 1983, 40 hours before
- Departed: ST. XAVIER, MT

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 312 total, 238 in this make and model, 273 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °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 19830821043159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830821043159A), Aug 21, 1983: Piper PA12, St Xavier, MT, Substantial damage. Pilot delayed in making goaround from landing and aircraftcrashed through a fence in the attempted takeoff.

## Other investigations on N3351M (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 SEA03WA114](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA03WA114), Jun 19, 2003: Piper PA-12 (N3351M), Nimpo Lake, BC, Canada, destroyed, 2 fatal

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.