# NTSB MIA70FKJ38: Piper PA-18, N3960Z, Muscle Shoals, AL, June 9, 1970

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: June 9, 1970
- Place: Muscle Shoals, AL · MUSCLE SHOALS, AL
- Location: 34.7427° N, 87.6338° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Muscle Shoals, AL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7427&lon=-87.6338&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 30, 1971
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 124838
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA70FKJ38
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA70FKJ38

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2517   70/6/9    MUSCLE SHOALS,ALA   PIPER PA-18         CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 28, 287
        TIME - 1430                    N3960Z              PX-  0  0  0  AERIAL APPLICATION        TOTAL HOURS, 45 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          MUSCLE SHOALS,ALA           LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: PULLUP FROM SWATH RUN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED CLEARANCE
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL -   25                       KIND OF OPERATION - SPRAYING CROPS
          KIND OF CROP - COTTON                                    TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - LIQUID CHEMICAL-TOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -FASTENED-PROPERLY                    GLOVES - NOT USED
          GOGGLES - NOT USED                                       CRASH HELMET - AVAILABLE USED
          COCKPIT CRASHPAD - NOT INSTALLED                         CRASH BAR - NOT INSTALLED
          TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - BELLY                             ELEVATION-AREA BEING TREATED-FEET -  590
          SWATH RUN-HOW FLOWN - WIND CALM
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3960Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3960Z-1972-02-28), registration cancelled 1972-02-28, S/N 18-7823 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18
- Registry model: [Piper PA-18](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18) (registry code 7101802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

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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