Pilot Debrief

PIPER PA-25-235 near Whitewood, SD — 2011-08-20

Final reportCEN11LA581
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Date
2011-08-20
Location
Whitewood, SD, USA
Airport
SPF
Aircraft
PIPER PA-25-235
Registration
N7051Z
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
1
Phase of flight
Approach

Probable cause

The pilot's collision with terrain for undetermined reasons.

NTSB narrative

The airplane owner stated that the pilot was applying insecticide to an alfalfa field about 12 miles north of the departure airport. The pilot had completed three application flights without incident prior to the accident flight. A witness located about 2 miles south of the field reported that she observed the accident airplane and everything seemed to be normal. She subsequently observed the airplane depart the area in the general direction of the accident site. The airplane impacted a hill along the east side of a valley. The impact point was located about 14 feet below the crest of the hill, which led up to a plateau. The land owner located the wreckage about 40 minutes after the witness observed the airplane departing the area. A postaccident examination did not reveal any anomalies consistent with a preimpact failure or malfunction.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Controlled flight into terrain
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have chosen to avoid the hill during the final approach.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • ADS-B / radar
  • 9 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents9

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