Piper PA-18-150 N22EV

Summary

On 25 March 2002 at about 14:20 local time, a Piper PA-18-150 registered N22EV was involved in an accident near Fort Peck, Montana, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

25 March 2002 at 14:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Fort Peck, Montana, United States

Coordinates

48.0111, -106.2044

Aircraft

Piper PA-18-150

Registration

N22EV

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Other Work Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Glasgow → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA02LA058

2 people were seriously injured.

The pilot's inability to maintain aircraft control and foreign object damage to the aileron and wing. The restricted movement of the flight controls was a factor.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was conducting a predator (coyote) control flight over private rangeland. During the flight, at a reported altitude of approximately 40 feet above ground level (AGL), the passenger inadvertently discharged a semiautomatic 12-gauge shotgun. The pilot, who was seated in the forward seat, reported that the gun fired 3-4 times, striking the right wing, fuel tank and aileron assembly. He reported that the damage resulted in a loss of aileron and elevator control. The airplane entered a descending turn to the right and subsequently impacted terrain in a nose-low attitude. The pilot reported the aircraft was on fire upon touchdown and continued to burn after the impact. The pilot reported that there were no preexisting mechanical malfunctions or failures that contributed to the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.