# NTSB SEA78FTI22: Piper PA-18, N3473Z, Columbia Falls, MT, June 7, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: June 7, 1978
- Place: Columbia Falls, MT · COLUMBIA FALLS, MT
- Location: 48.3715° N, 114.1918° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Columbia Falls, MT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.3715&lon=-114.1918&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 30, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 141669
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA78FTI22
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA78FTI22

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1033   78/6/7    COLUMBIA FALLS,MT   PIPER PA-18         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             ATP,FLIGHT INSTR., AGE
        TIME - 1815                    N3473Z              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  44, 12500 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            UNK/NR IN TYPE,
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          KALISPELL,MT                LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: BUZZING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXERCISED POOR JUDGMENT
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED CLEARANCE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - UNWARRANTED LOW FLYING
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        REMARKS- HIT TREES 40FT AGL.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3473Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3473Z), registered now, S/N 18-7298, 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 19780607012289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780607012289A), Jun 7, 1978: Piper PA18150, Columbia Falls, MT, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. Hit trees 40FT AGL.

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.