Piper PA-28-235 accident near Faulkton, SD
On September 9, 2005, a Piper PA-28-235 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Faulkton, SD. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- September 9, 2005
- Place
- Faulkton, SD
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-235 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 45.019°N, 99.101°W
- NTSB ID
- 20050919X01492
Official records · CHI05LA261
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On September 9, 2005, about 0300 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28-235, N8523W, piloted by a private pilot, was destroyed when it impacted the ground after departing the Faulkton Municipal Airport (3FU), Faulkton, South Dakota. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in instrument meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The pilot received fatal injuries. The airplane had originally departed Osceola, Wisconsin, and had landed at 3FU for fuel. The intended final destination was the Gettysburg Municipal Airport, Gettysburg, South Dakota. The airplane was reported overdue and was not found until 1826 on September 9, 2005. The airplane came to rest in a cornfield about 0.63 nautical miles south of the departure end of runway 13 (3,000 feet by 60 feet, asphalt) at 3FU. A sheriff's dispatcher reported that she had received a call at 0210 from the pilot saying that he was "out of gas and trying to get home to Gettysburg." She stated that she called a gasoline supplier who said that he would go to the airport. She stated that at 0257 the supplier called to inform her that he had given the pilot 22 gallons of "regular gas" and that the pilot was made aware that it was "regular gas." She stated that at 0300, she looked out of the west jail windows and noted that it was "very foggy" and she could only see 2 city blocks. A witness stated that he had been called at 0212 because there was an airplane at 3FU that was in need of fuel. He stated that he went to the airport and informed the pilot that in order to get 100LL aviation gasoline the pilot wou
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane due to spatial disorientation during initial climb after takeoff into night instrument meteorological conditions. Factors were the fog and the dark night.
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Browse: South Dakota · Piper aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
