Piper Aircraft Inc PA-28-181 accident near Buxton, ND
On October 19, 2021, a Piper Aircraft Inc PA-28-181 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Buxton, ND. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- October 19, 2021
- Place
- Buxton, ND
- Aircraft
- Piper Aircraft Inc PA-28-181 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 47.569°N, 97.032°W
- NTSB ID
- 20211019104122
Official records · CEN22FA017
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
On October 18, 2021, about 1924 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28-181 airplane, N820ND, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Buxton, North Dakota. The pilot sustained fatal injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. According to air traffic control information, the pilot departed Grand Forks International Airport (GFK), Grand Forks, North Dakota, about 1900 for a night cross-country flight to Hector International Airport (FAR), Fargo, North Dakota. The airplane departed runway 17L, climbed to about 3,700 ft mean sea level, and continued south toward FAR. About 30 miles from GFK, the airplane turned left about 180° and began a rapid descent (see figure 1.). The airplane’s track ended about 1924. Based on an estimate of the last known position, the airplane was located by local law enforcement about 2040. Figure 1. Airplane flight track The wreckage was located in a plowed, soft dirt field and distributed on a magnetic heading of about 300°. The initial impact point was located about 25 ft from the main wreckage. The initial impact contained the two-bladed propeller and propeller hub and several separated sections of the lower forward fuselage. Fragmented sections of the engine cowling, upper cockpit and windscreen structure, plexiglass, and avionics were found in the debris forward of the main wreckage. Both wing leading edges were crushed aft to the flaps and ailerons. The forward fuselage was crushed aft to the rear cabin bulkhead. The airplane damage was consistent with a high-angle and
Probable cause
The pilot’s intentional flight into terrain as an act of suicide.
More accidents in ND
- Cessna 401A, Feb 24, 1994
- Piper PA-24-250, Oct 22, 1986
- Cessna 441, Nov 18, 2018
- Piper PA 28-140, Jun 9, 2016
- Beech V35B, Jul 31, 1992
Browse: North 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.
