Piper PA-18-150 N7343L

Summary

On 30 May 2023 at about 12:44 local time, a Piper PA-18-150 registered N7343L, operated by Air Dakota Flite Inc, was involved in an accident near St. Anthony, North Dakota, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

30 May 2023 at 12:44

Classification

Accident

Location

St. Anthony, North Dakota, United States

Coordinates

46.5983, -100.9408

Aircraft

Piper PA-18-150

Registration

N7343L

Category

Airplane

Year built

1975

Engines

1

Operator

Air Dakota Flite Inc

Operating rule

Public Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Mandan → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN23LA210

2 people had minor injuries.

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from terrain while maneuvering at low attitude.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that while conducting wildlife damage management activities under contract with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, he entered a right 180-degree turn in order to reverse direction and position the airplane. The airplane heading prior to the turn was into a slight right quartering headwind and required a climb due to up-sloping terrain. About 160 degrees into the right turn, the right quartering headwind became a left quartering tailwind. The airplane descended and contacted the ground. On contact, the nose of the airplane pitched forward and struck the ground. The airplane then bounced, cartwheeled, and came to rest approximately 105 ft from the initial ground contact, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage, both wings, and the empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.