# NTSB SEA79FTA15: Piper PA-18, N5493H, Circle, MT, June 5, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: June 5, 1979
- Place: Circle, MT · CIRCLE, MT
- Location: 47.4177° N, 105.5870° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Circle, MT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.4177&lon=-105.5870&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 3, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 144050
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA79FTA15
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA79FTA15

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1332   79/6/5  NR.CIRCLE,MT          PIPER PA-18         CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 24, 562
        TIME - 0900                    N5493H              PX-  0  0  0  ASSOC CROP CTL ACTIVITY   TOTAL HOURS, 95 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT
         CIRCLE,MT
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: WIRES/POLES                               TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        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                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      65
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          270                                                       10
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL -  562                       KIND OF OPERATION - DEFOLIATION (LIQUID)
          KIND OF CROP - GRAIN FIELDS                              TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - LIQUID CHEMICAL-NONTOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -FASTENED-PROPERLY                    GLOVES - USED
          GOGGLES - NOT USED                                       CRASH HELMET - AVAILABLE USED
          COCKPIT CRASHPAD - NOT INSTALLED                         CRASH BAR - NOT INSTALLED
          TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - BELLY                             TERRAIN-TYPE -LEVEL,FLAT
          ELEVATION-AREA BEING TREATED-FEET -  2400
        REMARKS- TOOK OFF FROM ROAD IN X-WIND.DRIFTED INTO POWER POLE GUY WIRE.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5493H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5493H), registered now, S/N 18-84 (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: 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 19790605010599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790605010599A), Jun 5, 1979: Piper PA18, Circle, MT, Substantial damage. Pilot attempted to takeoff from a road. Started to drift into wires. Made turn to avoid wires. Wing tip hit wire.

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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