# NTSB SEA07CA194: Piper PA-18-150, N7145Z, Jordan, MT, July 13, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 13, 2007, 07:30 local (13:30 UTC) - Place: Jordan, MT - Coordinates: 47.271389, -106.828613 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.2714&lon=-106.8286&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 31, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 66329 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA07CA194 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66329/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA07CA194 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during a go-around. Contributing factors were the pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing and the rough/uneven terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, go-around (vfr) - go-around - initiated, pilot in command - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (contributing factor) - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot said that he and his passenger were hunting coyotes. He decided to land on a narrow ridge just above a coyote's hole. He said the aircraft hit the ground hard and bounced back into the air. He initiated a go around, but the airplane ended up going down a 20 foot deep dry wash that was parallel to the original landing site. The right wing, the engine mount, and the fuselage were bent and broken. ## Factual narrative The pilot said that he and his passenger were hunting coyotes. He decided to land on a narrow ridge just above a coyote's hole. He said the aircraft hit the ground hard and bounced back into the air. He initiated a go around, but the airplane ended up going down a 20 foot deep dry wash that was parallel to the original landing site. The right wing, the engine mount, and the fuselage were bent and broken. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7145Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7145Z), registered now, S/N 18-8263, built 1965 (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: 18-8263 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial observation, Part 91 - Registered owner: Jeffrey A. Skyberg - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: PRIV, Circle, MT - Destination: PRIV, Brockway, MT ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: front; flight hours: 5,250 total, 4,230 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: GDV ## 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 20070713015639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070713015639A), Jul 13, 2007: Piper PA18150, Circle, MT, Substantial damage. (-23) On July 13, 2007, at 7:30 am, mountain time, a Piper PA-18-150, N7145Z, registered to the pilot [privacy data omitted] landed on a hill approximately… ## Other investigations on N7145Z (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 DEN69D0184](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN69D0184), Feb 4, 1969: Piper PA-18 (N7145Z), Woods Cross, UT, 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.