# NTSB FTW80DQD04: Piper PA-18, N9796P, Tornillo, TX, October 18, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: October 18, 1980
- Place: Tornillo, TX · TORNILLO, TX
- Location: 31.4367° N, 106.1032° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Tornillo, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.4367&lon=-106.1032&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 14, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 129034
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW80DQD04
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW80DQD04

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2510  80/10/18   TORNILLO,TX         PIPER PA-18         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 38, 3040
        TIME - 1430                    N9796P              PX-  0  0  0  AERIAL SURVEY             TOTAL HOURS, 120 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          TORNILLO,TX                 LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: FENCE,FENCEPOSTS                          IN FLIGHT: LOW PASS
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED ALTITUDE AND CLEARANCE
           PILOT IN COMMAND - DIVERTED ATTENTION FROM OPERATION OF AIRCRAFT
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - UNWARRANTED LOW FLYING
        REMARKS- OBSERVING CATTLE IN FEEDLOT,HIT POST.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9796P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9796P-2011-09-14), registration cancelled 2011-09-14, S/N 18-7609030, built 1976 (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

## 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 19801018067399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19801018067399A), Oct 18, 1980: Piper PA18, Fornillo, TX, Substantial damage. Dragged wing tip on fence post looking at cattle in feedlot, impact severed aileron, crash landed.

## Other investigations on N9796P (2)

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 ANC04LA104](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC04LA104), Sep 4, 2004: Piper PA-18-150 (N9796P), Cantwell, AK, destroyed. Probable cause: An in-flight fire for an undetermined reason, which resulted in an off-airport forced landing and subsequent destruction of the airplane by fire.
- [NTSB ANC91LA136](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC91LA136), Aug 26, 1991: Piper PA-18 (N9796P), Aspen Creek, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS AND THE ROUGH TERRAIN.

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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