# NTSB SEA79FTA10: Piper PA-18, N3803Z, Terry, MT, February 28, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: February 28, 1979
- Place: Terry, MT · TERRY, MT
- Location: 46.7922° N, 105.3125° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Terry, MT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.7922&lon=-105.3125&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 6, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 137934
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA79FTA10
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA79FTA10

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0268  79/2/28  NR.TERRY,MT           PIPER PA-18         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 28, 725
        TIME - 1700                    N3803Z              PX-  0  0  1  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 504 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          GLENDIVE,MT                 LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           GEAR COLLAPSED                                           LANDING: ROLL
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - LUBRICATING SYSTEM: OIL COOLERS
           MISCELLANEOUS - FOREIGN MATERIAL AFFECTING NORMAL OPERATIONS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - EXCESSIVE PRESSURE
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SELECTED UNSUITABLE TERRAIN
           TERRAIN - SNOW-COVERED
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
        PARTIAL POWER LOSS - PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER - 1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - PRECAUTIONARY LANDING OFF AIRPORT
        REMARKS- OIL TEMP HIGH DUE TAPE OVER COOLER. SKI BROKE THRU SNOW CRUST.
```

## 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 19790228003819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790228003819A), Feb 28, 1979: Piper PA18, Terry, MT, Substantial damage. Pilot landed ski equipped aircraft on snow. Right ski penetrated snow crust. Landed to remove tape from oil cooler.

## 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 SEA74FTA28](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA74FTA28), Jun 18, 1974: Piper PA-18 (N3803Z), Saco, 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.

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