# NTSB SEA69D0123: Piper PA-18, N9443D, Melville, MT, August 12, 1968

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: August 12, 1968
- Place: Melville, MT · MELVILLE, MT
- Location: 46.1030° N, 109.9538° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Melville, MT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.1030&lon=-109.9538&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 3, 1969
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 108614
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA69D0123
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA69D0123

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3896  68/8/12  NR.MELVILLE,MONT      PIPER PA-18         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 49, 17000
        TIME - 1010                    N9443D              PX-  0  0  1  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 10000 IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - DECOCK RANCH
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           STALL: MUSH                                              TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO OBTAIN/MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - DOWNDRAFT,UPDRAFTS
           WEATHER - HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  RELATIVE BEARING OF WIND
          NONE                                                     RIGHT CROSS WIND 068-112 DEGREES
        TEMPERATURE-F                                            WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
           85                                                      315
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           10                                                      VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- DOWNDRAFTS FROM LEE SIDE OF MTS.DENSITY ALT APPROX 7500 FT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: N9443D (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Decock Ranch

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.

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