# NTSB SEA79DTA02: Piper PA-18, N3180Z, Miles City, MT, October 20, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: October 20, 1978
- Place: Miles City, MT · MILES CITY, MT
- Location: 46.4058° N, 105.8389° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Miles City, MT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.4058&lon=-105.8389&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 30, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 143923
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA79DTA02
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA79DTA02

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3104  78/10/20 NR.MILES CITY,MT      PIPER PA-18         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 43, 229
        TIME - 1600                    N3180Z              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 5 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - RANCH STRIP
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         MILES CITY,MT               UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           GROUND-WATER LOOP-SWERVE                                 TAKEOFF: RUN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER OPERATION OF BRAKES AND/OR FLIGHT CONTROLS
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH AIRCRAFT
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        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                                                     LEFT QUARTERING HEAD WIND 293-337 DEGREES
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          300                                                       15
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- DMGD R WG.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: N3180Z (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Ranch Strip

## 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 19781020033229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19781020033229A), Oct 20, 1978: Piper PA18S125, Miles City, MT, Substantial damage. Dmgd r wg.

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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