# NTSB IAD78FLQ31: Smith Mini, N846Z, Louisville, KY, August 18, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: August 18, 1978
- Place: Louisville, KY · LOUISVILLE, KY
- Location: 38.2542° N, 85.7594° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Louisville, KY, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2542&lon=-85.7594&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 11, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 140569
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD78FLQ31
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD78FLQ31

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2014  78/8/18    LOUISVILLE,KY       SMITH MINI          CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 46, 1500
        TIME - 1355                    N846Z               PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 1 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - BOWMAN FIELD
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          LOUISVILLE,KY               LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           GEAR COLLAPSED                                           LANDING: ROLL
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           AIRFRAME - LANDING GEAR: MAIN GEAR-SHOCK ABSORBING ASSY,STRUTS,ATTACHMENTS,ETC.
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - MATERIAL FAILURE
        FACTOR(S)
           PERSONNEL - PRODUCTION-DESIGN-PERSONNEL: POOR/INADEQUATE DESIGN
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - POOR WELD
        REMARKS- EXPERIMENTAL-AMATEUR BUILT ACFT.GR LEG FAILED AT WELD.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N846Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N846Z-1981-10-15), registration cancelled 1981-10-15, S/N GN2 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SMITH MINI
- Registry model: [Smith Miniplane DSA-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/smith-miniplane-dsa-1) (registry code 835010R) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Bowman Field

## 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 19780818021819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780818021819A), Aug 18, 1978: Kinner SPORTSTERK, Louisville, KY, Substantial damage. Experimental-amateur built acft. Gr leg failed at weld.

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.