# NTSB SEA03LA140: Piper PA-18A, N6792B, Zurich, MT, July 15, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 15, 2003, 07:40 local (13:40 UTC) - Place: Zurich, MT - Coordinates: 48.630554, -109.031387 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.6306&lon=-109.0314&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report November 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Helena, Montana - NTSB case key (mKey): 57494 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA03LA140 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57494/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA03LA140 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed which resulted in an inadvertent stall. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - turn to reverse direction - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly ## Analysis The pilot was conducting low level predator control operations in a slow flight mode with flaps at 1/2. During a left turn from the west to the east, at 30 to 40 feet above ground level, the pilot felt the initial indications of the airplane entering a stall. As the wings were rolled level the aircraft entered a secondary stall, subsequently impacting the ground in a slight nose down, wings level attitude. ## Factual narrative On July 15, 2003, approximately 0740 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-18A, N6792B, sustained substantial damage after impacting terrain while maneuvering 3 nautical miles north of Zurich, Montana. The airplane was registered to a private individual and operated by Prairie Aviation of Glasgow, Montana. The airline transport pilot and his sole passenger received serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 CFR Part 91 predator control flight, and a flight plan was not filed. The flight departed the Edgar G. Obie Airport, Chinook, Montana, at 0615. The pilot reported he was conducting low level operations in a "slow flight mode with flaps at 1/2." During a left turn from the west to the east, at approximately 30 to 40 feet above ground level (agl) he felt the initial indications of the airplane entering a stall. The pilot stated that after rolling wings level the aircraft entered a secondary stall, subsequently impacting the ground in an approximately 5 degree nose down, wings level attitude, coming to rest in an upright position. The pilot and passenger exited the airplane successfully, and no post-impact fire ensued. According the an FAA inspector, who traveled to the accident site, both landing gear had collapsed, both propeller blades were bent aft, and the left wing spar and aileron sustained substantial damage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6792B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6792B), registered now, S/N 18-5026, built 1956 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-18A - Registry model: [Piper PA-18A](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18a) (registry code 7101804) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-5026 - Airframe hours: 5123 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial observation, Part 91 - Operator: Prairie Aviation, Inc. - Registered owner: Leland L. Blatter - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 2, 2003, 79 hours before - Departed: S71, Chinook, MT - Destination: S71, Zurich, MT ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: minor; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review June 11, 2003; seat: front; flight hours: 6,948 total, 6,824 as pilot in command, 234 in the last 90 days, 85 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: HVR, 35 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 20030715015889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030715015889A), Jul 15, 2003: Piper PA18A, Zurich, MT, Substantial damage. (-23) Russell was the pilot in command of N6792B, a Piper PA-18, conducting predator control (coyote hunting) on July 15, 2003. While maneuvering at the top of… ## Other investigations on N6792B (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 MKC69D0311](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC69D0311), Jan 7, 1969: Piper PA-18A (N6792B), Hankinson, ND, substantial damage 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.