# NTSB DIA69A0002: Piper PA-18S, N3951Z, Swords Creek, VA, July 10, 1968

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: July 10, 1968
- Place: Swords Creek, VA · SWORDS CREEK, VA
- Location: 37.0362° N, 81.9179° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Swords Creek, VA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.0362&lon=-81.9179&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 9, 1968
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 109904
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DIA69A0002
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DIA69A0002

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2050  68/7/10    SWORDS CREEK,VA     PIPER PA-18S        CR-  1  0  0  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 37, 5856
        TIME - 1730                    N3951Z              PX-  1  0  0  POWER/PIPELINE            TOTAL HOURS, 800 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           STALL                                                    IN FLIGHT: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO OBTAIN/MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - PILOT FATIGUE
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- STALLED DURING ATTEMPT TO AVOID MNTN RIDGE. PLT HAD FLOWN 9 HRS THAT DAY,37 HRS IN PAST 3 DAYS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3951Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3951Z-1970-06-29), registration cancelled 1970-06-29, S/N 18-7809 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18S
- Registry model: [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (registry code 7101828) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

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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