Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Artesian, South Dakota 57314
Monday, May 11, 1998 7:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Purpose of the flight was predator (coyote) control for the State of South Dakota Department of Game, Fish, and Parks. The pilot and a gunner were attempting to chase a coyote out of a 'slew' into an alfalfa field when the accident occurred. The pilot reported they were in a left, slightly descending turn at an altitude of 150 feet above the ground when the stick went 'limp.' The pilot reported he added full power, leveled the wings, and applied forward stick pressure in an attempt to regain lift. The airplane continued to descend and it impacted the edge of the alfalfa field in a wings level attitude. Upon impact the main landing gear separated from the airplane and the airplane slid approximately 60 feet prior to nosing over. The pilot reported that he suspects 'wind shear' caused the accident. Winds reported 30 miles northwest of the accident site were from 140 degrees at 7 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed which resulted in a stall.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/11/1998
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 730
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City ARTESIAN
Event State SOUTH DAKOTA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 57314
Event Date Year 1998
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 755 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 320
Weather Observation Facility ID HON
Elevation of weather observation facility 1288
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 30
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 6000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 6
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 11
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 9
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 140
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 304
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 11 1998 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1151
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 11:19AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N83679
NTSB Number CHI98TA145
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 Piper
Aircraft Model PA-18-150
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-18-150
Aircraft Serial Number 18-7709117
Certified Max Gross Weight 1750
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 Oct 16 1997 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 255
Airframe Hours 7072
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA
Aircraft Owner Street Address 445 E CAPITAL
Aircraft Owner City PIERRE
Aircraft Owner State SD
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 57501
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
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) Public Use
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code HON
Departure City HURON
Departure State SD
Departure Country
Departure Time 700
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
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 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --