# NTSB SEA03LA068: Piper PA-18-135, N60733, Marion, MT, April 23, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 22, 2003, 18:15 local (Apr 23, 2003, 00:15 UTC) - Place: Marion, MT - Coordinates: 48.095001, -114.852218 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.0950&lon=-114.8522&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 2, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 56863 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA03LA068 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56863/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA03LA068 ## Probable cause The pilot-in-command's failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll resulting in the aircraft leaving the runway, crossing a ditch and collapsing the landing gear. A contributing factor was the ditch. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - Gear collapsed, takeoff - roll/run - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot/owner of the Piper PA-18-135, accompanied by his wife, was taking off from runway 12, a turf/grass strip, at Marion, Montana. Winds were light and out of the southeast at the time. The pilot reported that during the takeoff roll he lost directional control of the aircraft, which then departed the runway crossing a ditch and collapsing the main landing gear. The pilot reported that there was no mechanical malfunction with the aircraft during the event. ## Factual narrative On April 22, 2003, approximately 1815 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-18-135, N60733, registered to and being flown/operated by a private pilot, was substantially damaged during a loss of control on takeoff at the Carson Field airstrip (MT53), Marion, Montana. The pilot and his wife were uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions existed and no flight plan had been filed. The flight, which was personal, was operated under 14CFR91, and was to have been local in nature. The pilot reported the accident to the NTSB's Northwest Regional Office on the morning of April 23rd and stated that during the takeoff roll on runway 12 (turf), and with a 2-3 knot quartering wind, he lost directional control of the conventionally geared Super Cub and the aircraft departed the runway crossing a ditch and damaging one wing. Winds at Kalispell, Montana, 29 nautical miles northeast were reported at 4 knots from 120 degrees magnetic at 1755. The pilot reported that there was no mechanical malfunction with the aircraft during the event. The pilot later reported in the narrative of his submitted NTSB Form 6120.1: "Failure to maintain directional control of [the] aircraft [which] resulted in it leaving [the] runway and running through [a] ditch shearing [the] gear legs." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N60733](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N60733), registered now, S/N 18-3366 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-18-135 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18A-135](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18a-135) (registry code 7101822) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-3366 - Airframe hours: 3160 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Groarke, Michael J. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 3, 2003, 26 hours before - Departed: MT53, Marion, MT - Airport: MT53, Carson Field, runway 12, 3,600 × 40 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review October 23, 2002; flight hours: 168 total, 50 in this make and model, 988 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 29.54 inHg - Observed at: FCA, 27 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 20030422007229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030422007229A), Apr 22, 2003: Piper PA18A135, Kalispell, MT, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot stated he lost directional control during takeoff at Carson field (private strip, MT53) due to insufficient attention to rudder. Landing gear,… ## Other investigations on N60733 (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 WPR20CA214](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20CA214), Jul 6, 2020: Piper PA 18A-135 (N60733), Marion, MT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane while landing in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with a fence. 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.