# NTSB FTW69D0539: Piper PA-18A, N6983B, Sonora, TX, May 19, 1969

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: May 19, 1969
- Place: Sonora, TX · SONORA, TX
- Location: 30.5707° N, 100.6418° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Sonora, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.5707&lon=-100.6418&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 10, 1969
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 177704
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW69D0539
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW69D0539

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1469  69/5/19    SONORA,TEX          PIPER PA-18A        CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1730                    N6983B              PX-  0  0  0  ASSOC CROP CTL ACTIVITY   AGE 26, 535 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            32 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           GROUND-WATER LOOP-SWERVE                                 TAKEOFF: RUN
           COLLIDED WITH: FENCE,FENCEPOSTS                          TAKEOFF: RUN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           WEATHER - LOCAL WHIRLWIND
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - ROUGH/UNEVEN
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      88
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          180                                                       8
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL -  150                       KIND OF OPERATION - SPRAYING CROPS
          KIND OF CROP - MESQUITE                                  TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - LIQUID CHEMICAL-NONTOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -FASTENED-PROPERLY                    GLOVES - NOT USED
          GOGGLES - NOT USED                                       CRASH HELMET - AVAILABLE USED
          COCKPIT CRASHPAD - NOT INSTALLED                         CRASH BAR - NOT INSTALLED
          TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - AFT OF PILOT
        REMARKS- T/O FROM NARROW FARM ROAD. PLT SAID SUDDEN GUSTY X-WIND SWERVED ACFT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6983B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6983B), registered now, S/N 18-5105 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18A
- Registry model: [Piper PA-18A 150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18a-150) (registry code 7101837) (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

## Other investigations on N6983B (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 CEN19LA224](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19LA224), Jul 14, 2019: Piper PA18 (N6983B), Osceola, WI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the right horizontal stabilizer during takeoff, resulting in a loss of control and forced landing. Contributing to the accident was the installation of an unapproved stabilizer frame…

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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