Piper PA-28-180 accident near Irene, SD
On July 31, 2024, a Piper PA-28-180 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Irene, SD. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- July 31, 2024
- Place
- Irene, SD
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 43.072°N, 97.215°W
- NTSB ID
- 20240731194815
Official records · CEN24FA295
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn July 31, 2024, about 0720 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28-180 airplane, N903US, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Irene, South Dakota. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. No flight plan had been filed, and the pilot was not in contact with air traffic control during the flight. According to a maintenance facility, the pilot was flying the airplane from Joe Foss Field Airport (FSD), Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to Chan Gurney Municipal Airport (YKN), Yankton, South Dakota, to have maintenance performed. ADS-B data showed that the airplane departed FSD at 0701 and proceeded on a predominantly southwest heading at 3,700 ft mean sea level (msl). At 0718, the airplane entered a descent that continued until the last recorded data point at 0720:52. During the final minute of recorded data, the airplane flight track made a descending left turn to the south followed by a descending right turn when the data ended. The final data point was about 400 ft east of the airplane’s final resting point (see figure 1). An individual driving in the area reported that as he drove on the adjacent road, he saw the glow of a fire through dense fog, which led him to discover the accident site. Figure 1. 3D representation of the final portion of the accident flight. PERSONNEL INFORMATIONThe pilot held a private pilot certificate with a rating for single-engine land airplanes and he did not hold an instrument rating. His pilot flight logbook indicated that he had accumula
Probable cause
The pilot’s poor decision to continue the flight into deteriorating weather conditions and his failure to maintain a safe altitude, which resulted in controlled flight into trees and terrain.
More accidents in SD
- Beech 1900, Jan 29, 2025
- Pilatus PC12, Nov 30, 2019
- Hughes 369HS, Jul 6, 1985
- Piper PA 32R-300, Apr 28, 2014
- Cessna 421C, Dec 9, 2011
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.
