# NTSB NYC79DNC38: Piper PA-18, N3194Z, Spruce Head, ME, July 23, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: July 23, 1979
- Place: Spruce Head, ME · SPRUCE HEAD, ME
- Location: 44.0115° N, 69.1328° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Spruce Head, ME, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.0115&lon=-69.1328&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 16, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 134751
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC79DNC38
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC79DNC38

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2219  79/7/23    SPRUCE HEAD,ME      PIPER PA-18         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 36, 259
        TIME - 0845                    N3194Z              PX-  0  0  1  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 128 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - OCEAN
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SPRUCE HEAD,ME              LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           GROUND-WATER LOOP-SWERVE                                 TAKEOFF: RUN
           GEAR COLLAPSED                                           TAKEOFF: RUN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SELECTED UNSUITABLE TERRAIN
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - ROUGH WATER
        REMARKS- FLOAT EQUIPPED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3194Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3194Z), registered now, S/N 18-7190, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18
- Registry model: [Piper PA-18](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18) (registry code 7101802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental C90 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (registry code 17009, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Ocean

## 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 19790723021629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790723021629A), Jul 23, 1979: Piper PA18, Spruce Head, ME, Substantial damage. Attempted takeoff. Float hit sea swell after liftoff. Broke off float. Acft hit water.

## Other investigations on N3194Z (1)

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 NYC04CA031](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC04CA031), Nov 9, 2003: Piper PA-18 (N3194Z), Westfield, MA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control while landing.

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.