# NTSB SEA02LA058: Piper PA-18-150, N22EV, Fort Peck, MT, March 25, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 25, 2002, 07:20 local (14:20 UTC) - Place: Fort Peck, MT - Coordinates: 48.011112, -106.204444 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.0111&lon=-106.2044&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report September 9, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 54393 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA02LA058 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54393/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54393 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA02LA058 ## Probable cause The pilot's inability to maintain aircraft control and foreign object damage to the aileron and wing. The restricted movement of the flight controls was a factor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - wing - foreign object damage (cause) - aircraft control - not possible, pilot in command (cause) - flight control,aileron - movement restricted (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - water,frozen ## Analysis The pilot was conducting a predator (coyote) control flight over private rangeland. During the flight, at a reported altitude of approximately 40 feet above ground level (AGL), the passenger inadvertently discharged a semiautomatic 12-gauge shotgun. The pilot, who was seated in the forward seat, reported that the gun fired 3-4 times, striking the right wing, fuel tank and aileron assembly. He reported that the damage resulted in a loss of aileron and elevator control. The airplane entered a descending turn to the right and subsequently impacted terrain in a nose-low attitude. The pilot reported the aircraft was on fire upon touchdown and continued to burn after the impact. The pilot reported that there were no preexisting mechanical malfunctions or failures that contributed to the accident. ## Factual narrative On March 25, 2002, about 0720 mountain standard time, a Piper PA-18-150, N22EV, sustained substantial damage after colliding with terrain near Fort Peck, Montana. The airplane is owned by the pilot, and was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) flight under the provisions of Title 14, CFR Part 91. The commercial pilot-in-command and passenger sustained serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The pilot was conducting a predator (coyote) control flight over private rangeland near Fort Peck. During the flight, at a reported altitude of approximately 40 feet above ground level (AGL), the passenger inadvertently discharged a semiautomatic 12-gauge shotgun. The pilot, who was seated in the forward seat, reported that the gun fired 3-4 times, striking the right wing, fuel tank and aileron assembly. He reported that the damage resulted in a loss of aileron and elevator control. The airplane entered a descending turn to the right and subsequently impacted terrain in a nose-low attitude. The pilot reported the aircraft was on fire upon touchdown and continued to burn after the impact. The pilot reported that there were no preexisting mechanical malfunctions or failures that contributed to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N22EV](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N22EV), registered now, S/N 1809022, built 1989 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-18-150 - 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 - Serial number: 1809022 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: Both - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Departed: GGW, GLASGOW, MT ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Co-pilot; age 34; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 925 total, 228 in this make and model, 834 as pilot in command, 120 in the last 90 days, 42 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 15 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 12 °F, dew point 7 °F - Altimeter: 30.13 inHg - Observed at: KGGW, 21 nm away ## 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 20020325005289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020325005289A), Mar 25, 2002: Piper PA18150, Glasgow, MT, No damage. (-23) On March 25, 2002, aircraft with pilot and passenger was hunting coyotes approximately 24 miles se of Glasgow when semi-automatic shotgun inadvertently… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 15, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54393. 1.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40395440&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Passenger Statement Addendum (item 2, .PDF, 179 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40395441&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Passenger%20Statement%20Addendum-Redacted.PDF 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.