Faulkton Muni Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Faulkton, South Dakota 57438
Friday, September 9, 2005 3:00 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane was destroyed when it impacted the ground after departing an airport into instrument meteorological conditions at night. The airplane came to rest about 0.6 miles from the departure end of the runway. A fuel truck driver reported that he was called by local authorities about 0210 and informed that there was an airplane at the airport in need of fuel. He stated that he responded and serviced the airplane with 22 gallons of unleaded automotive fuel. He stated that as he was leaving the airport, he saw a small white light heading down the runway. A sheriff's dispatcher reported that she had received a call at 0210 from the pilot saying that he was "out of gas and trying to get home." She stated that she called a gasoline supplier who said that he would go to the airport. She stated that the supplier later called to inform her that he had given the pilot 22 gallons of "regular gas" and that the pilot was made aware that it was "regular gas." She stated that at 0300, she looked out of the west jail windows and noted that it was very foggy and she could only see 2 city blocks. Another witness also reported foggy conditions in the area at the time of the accident. The pilot did not have an instrument rating or a current medical certificate. A weather report for the nearest reporting facility indicated reduced visibility. The moon had set and did not rise again until the following afternoon. No pre impact anomalies were found with respect to the airplane.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane due to spatial disorientation during initial climb after takeoff into night instrument meteorological conditions. Factors were the fog and the dark night.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/9/2005
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 300
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Faulkton
Event State SOUTH DAKOTA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 57438
Event Date Year 2005
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 450110N
Event Location Longitude 0990605W
Event Location Airport FAULKTON MUNI
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 3FU
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 1569
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 253 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 45
Weather Observation Facility ID KABR
Elevation of weather observation facility 1302
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 39
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 6
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 150
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 11
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.8
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report METAR KABR 090453Z AUTO 12006KT 7SM CLR 20/18 A298
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 20785
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Sep 9 2005 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Dec 28 2006 9:08AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Rapid City, South Dakota

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8523W
NTSB Number CHI05LA261
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-28-235
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 28-10024
Certified Max Gross Weight 2900
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Dec 1 2004 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 13
Airframe Hours 4290
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated --
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name OAHE FLYING INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 30960 US HIGHWAY 212
Aircraft Owner City Gettysburg
Aircraft Owner State SD
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 57442
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name John F Luce
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Gettysburg
Operator State SD
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 57442
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 No
Departure Airport Code OEO
Departure City OSCEOLA
Departure State WI
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone --
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 0D8
Destination City GETTYSBURG
Destination State SD
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 18 2006 4:27PM
User who most recently changed record SULP
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 13
Runway Length 3000
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --