# NTSB FTW78FQG10: Piper PA-18A, N2260A, Sterling City, TX, December 21, 1977

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: December 21, 1977
- Place: Sterling City, TX · STERLING CITY, TX
- Location: 31.8392° N, 100.9859° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Sterling City, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.8392&lon=-100.9859&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report January 30, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 144382
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW78FQG10
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW78FQG10

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3872  77/12/21   STERLING CITY,TX    PIPER PA-18A        CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 38, 539
        TIME - 1000                    N2260A              PX-  0  0  0  AERIAL SURVEY             TOTAL HOURS, 421 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          STERLING CITY,TX            LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           SYSTEMS - FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEMS: AILERON AND AILERON TAB CONTROL SYSTEM
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - JAMMED
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
                                  LATERAL CONTROL PROBLEM
        REMARKS- SHEEP ROUND UP-LOOSE TOOLS JAMMED CONTROL COLUMN
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: N2260A (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18A
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19771221040929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19771221040929A), Dec 21, 1977: Piper PA18150, Sterling City, TX, Substantial damage. Sheep round up-loose tools jammed control column

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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