Private Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Castlewood, South Dakota 57223
Saturday, January 21, 1995 15:30 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT REPORTED HE LANDED ON THE NORTH/SOUTH ORIENTED RUNWAY AT THE PRIVATE, SNOW COVERED SOD AIRSTRIP, BUT ELECTED TO TAKEOFF ON THE EAST/WEST SOD RUNWAY BECAUSE IT APPEARED TO HAVE LESS SNOW. DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, THE PILOT SAID THE LANDING GEAR ENCOUNTERED DRIFTED SNOW WHICH SLOWED THE AIRPLANE. THE PILOT CONTINUED THE TAKEOFF RUN, AND THE AIRPLANE BECAME AIRBORNE NEAR THE END OF THE 2,400' RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A FENCE SHORTLY AFTER LIFTOFF AND CRASHED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's inadequate preflight planning and preparation. Factors associated with the accident are the snow covered/drifted runway, and a fence.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/21/1995
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1530
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City CASTLEWOOD
Event State SOUTH DAKOTA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 57223
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport PRIVATE
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 2500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 5
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -7
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 330
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 15
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 5
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jan 30 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1500
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2000 3:59PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8981S
NTSB Number CHI95LA077
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 150F
Aircraft Series Identifier 150F
Aircraft Serial Number 15062281
Certified Max Gross Weight 1600
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 6 1994 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 6407
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name RALPH E. BREEDING
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 1492
Aircraft Owner City DODGE CITY
Aircraft Owner State KS
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 67801
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1530
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 6D8
Destination City VALLEY CITY
Destination State ND
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 9
Runway Length 2400
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --