# NTSB SEA74FTA28: Piper PA-18, N3803Z, Saco, MT, June 18, 1974

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: June 18, 1974
- Place: Saco, MT · SACO, MT
- Location: 48.4571° N, 107.3413° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Saco, MT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.4571&lon=-107.3413&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 2, 1974
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 130712
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA74FTA28
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA74FTA28

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2746  74/6/18  NR.SACO,MONT          PIPER PA-18         CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 0430                    N3803Z              PX-  0  0  0  ASSOC CROP CTL ACTIVITY   AGE 46, 10000 TOTAL
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            HOURS, 1520 IN TYPE, NOT
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          MALTA,MONT                 SACO,MONT
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: EN ROUTE TO TREAT CROP
           COLLIDED WITH: FENCE,FENCEPOSTS                          LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - MISCELLANEOUS: POWERPLANT FAILURE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS
           TERRAIN - OTHER
        PARTIAL POWER LOSS - PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER - 1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED       KIND OF OPERATION - SPRAYING CROPS
          KIND OF CROP - GRAIN FIELDS                              TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - LIQUID CHEMICAL-NONTOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -FASTENED-PROPERLY                    GLOVES - USED
          GOGGLES - NOT USED                                       CRASH HELMET - AVAILABLE-NOT USED
          COCKPIT CRASHPAD - NOT INSTALLED                         CRASH BAR - NOT INSTALLED
          TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - BELLY                             TERRAIN-TYPE -HILLY
          ELEVATION-AREA BEING TREATED-FEET -  2575
        REMARKS- PLT RPTD ENG LOSS PWR.NO MALFUNCTION FOUND.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3803Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3803Z), registered now, S/N 18-7536, built 1960 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18
- 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
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19740618024169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19740618024169A), Jun 18, 1974: Piper PA18150, Saco, MT, Substantial damage. Plt rptd eng loss pwr. No malfunction found.

## Other investigations on N3803Z (2)

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 SEA79FTA10](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA79FTA10), Feb 28, 1979: Piper PA-18 (N3803Z), Terry, MT, substantial damage
- [NTSB LAX73FUQ28](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX73FUQ28), Apr 1, 1973: Piper PA-18 (N3803Z), Tehachapi, CA, 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.