# NTSB FTW81DRG31: Piper PA-18, N7072D, Spicewood, TX, April 26, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: April 26, 1981
- Place: Spicewood, TX · SPICEWOOD, TX
- Location: 30.4755° N, 98.1564° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Spicewood, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.4755&lon=-98.1564&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report May 19, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 126703
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW81DRG31
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW81DRG31

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0586  81/4/26    SPICEWOOD,TX        PIPER PA-18         CR-  0  0  1  MISCELLANEOUS             COMMERCIAL, AGE 37, 1272
        TIME - 1910                    N7072D              PX-  0  0  1  TOWING GLIDERS            TOTAL HOURS, 514 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - WINDERMERE
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SPICEWOOD,TX                LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: LOW PASS
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED ALTITUDE
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - UNWARRANTED LOW FLYING
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN WATER
        REMARKS- DUG IN WINGTIP DURING STEEP LOW ALT TURN.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: N7072D (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Windermere

## 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 19810426018669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810426018669A), Apr 26, 1981: Piper PA18150, Lake Travis, TX, Destroyed. Pilot banked & wing struck water causing aircraft to cartwheel. Pilot said he thought he saw body in water.

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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