# NTSB FTW79FRG44: Piper PA-18, N57795, Castroville, TX, July 14, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: July 14, 1979
- Place: Castroville, TX · CASTROVILLE, TX
- Location: 29.3623° N, 98.8548° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Castroville, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.3623&lon=-98.8548&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 4, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 135231
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW79FRG44
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW79FRG44

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1882  79/7/14    CASTROVILLE,TX      PIPER PA-18         CR-  0  0  1  MISCELLANEOUS             COMMERCIAL, AGE 30, 2679
        TIME - 1500                    N57795              PX-  0  0  0  TOWING GLIDERS            TOTAL HOURS, 87 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - CASTROVILLE
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          CASTROVILLE,TX              LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           NOSE OVER/DOWN                                           LANDING: ROLL
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SELECTED UNSUITABLE TERRAIN
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - WET,SOFT GROUND
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - DOWNWIND
        REMARKS- OFF AIRPORT LNDG TO RETRIEVE GLIDER.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N57795](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N57795-2018-06-08), registration cancelled 2018-06-08, S/N 18-7709133, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18
- 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
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Castroville

## 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 19790714022759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790714022759A), Jul 14, 1979: Piper PA18150, Castroville, TX, Substantial damage. Landed in plowed farm field to retrieve sailplane pilot. Aircraft dug into soft dirt and flipped over.

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.
