# NTSB SEA79FTA01: Piper J-3, N33160, Belfry, MT, September 28, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: September 28, 1978
- Place: Belfry, MT · BELFRY, MT
- Location: 45.1372° N, 108.9981° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Belfry, MT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.1372&lon=-108.9981&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 1, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 138999
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA79FTA01
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA79FTA01

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2637  78/9/28  NR.BELFRY,MT          PIPER J-3           CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 37, 2380
        TIME - 1630                    N33160              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 20 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT
          RED LODGE,MT
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           GEAR COLLAPSED                                           LANDING: ROLL
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SELECTED UNSUITABLE TERRAIN
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - ROUGH/UNEVEN
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
        REMARKS- LND ON RANCH ROAD.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N33160](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N33160), registered now, S/N 5880, built 1940 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER J-3
- Registry model: [Piper J3C-85](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3c-85) (registry code 7100525) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, 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 19780928029589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780928029589A), Sep 28, 1978: Piper L4B, Belfry, MT, Substantial damage. Lnd on ranch road.

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.