# NTSB SEA76AS078: Piper PA-18, N8966C, Zurich, MT, September 24, 1976

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: September 24, 1976
- Place: Zurich, MT · ZURICH, MT
- Location: 48.5860° N, 109.0302° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Zurich, MT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.5860&lon=-109.0302&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report December 21, 1976
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 149691
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA76AS078
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA76AS078

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3274  76/9/24    ZURICH,MT           PIPER PA-18         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 31, 509
        TIME - 0100                    N8966C              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 76 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED        UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - BECAME LOST/DISORIENTED
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ALCOHOLIC IMPAIRMENT OF EFFICIENCY AND JUDGMENT
        REMARKS- PLT BLOOD ALCOHOL LEVEL 0.083%.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8966C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8966C-1977-01-25), registration cancelled 1977-01-25, S/N 18-2946 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18
- Registry model: [Piper PA-18-135](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-135) (registry code 7101820) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19760924037119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19760924037119A), Sep 24, 1976: Piper PA18135, Zurich, MT, Destroyed. Plt blood alcohol level 0.083 .

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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