Piper PA-28-151 accident near Spearfish, SD
On July 24, 2010, a Piper PA-28-151 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Spearfish, SD. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- July 24, 2010
- Place
- Spearfish, SD
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-151 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 44.481°N, 103.786°W
- NTSB ID
- 20100725X04447
Official records · CEN10LA430
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
On July 24, 2010, at 0800 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-28-151, N1158X, sustained substantial damage when it impacted the terrain and a tree after a loss of engine power during a go-around at the Black Hills Airport (SPF), Spearfish, South Dakota. The private pilot received minor injuries and the passenger was fatally injured. The 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight departed from Townsend Airport (8U8), Townsend, Montana, about 0500, and was stopping at SPF for fuel. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was filed. The pilot reported that the airplane’s airspeed was 70 mph when it was crossing the threshold for landing on runway 30 (5,498 feet by 75 feet, asphalt), which was 10 mph slower than he normally landed the airplane. He decided to execute a go-around, and he flew the length of the runway before making the crosswind turn. When he turned left onto the downwind leg, the engine stopped producing power, and he executed a forced landing to a field. He reported that he did not see a tree in the field, and the right wing impacted the tree after the airplane touched down. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the airplane and accident site. The wreckage path was about 160 feet in length on a northeasterly heading. The initial point of impact was a ground scar made by the left wingtip. The airplane’s right wing was found lodged around the trunk of a tree located about 100 feet from the initial impact point. The airplane’s main wreckage came to rest about 60 feet from the tree. The l
Probable cause
The pilot’s improper fuel management, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.
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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.
