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CEN11LA399

2011-06-17 · Highmore, South Dakota, United States · Fatal · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot did not maintain control of the airplane while maneuvering at low altitude.

Factual narrative

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On June 17, 2011, at 1200 central daylight time, a Piper PA-36-300, N57885, operated by Wilbur-Ellis, collided with the terrain following a loss of control in Highmore, South Dakota. The commercial pilot received fatal injuries. The airplane received substantial damage. The aerial application flight was operating under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from the Highmore Municipal Airport, Highmore, South Dakota, about 1130. The operator stated the pilot departed for the flight to spray a 40 acre plot located about 4 miles north of the airport. When the pilot did not return within the expected 30 to 40 minute time frame, the operator sent two airplanes out to look for him. The wreckage was located at 1230. There are no known witnesses to the accident; however, a local farmer reported seeing the airplane spraying in the area.

PERSONNEL INFORMATION

The pilot, age 31, held a commercial pilot certificate with airplane single-engine land and instrument-airplane ratings. He held a second-class medical certificate issued March 1, 2010. The medical certificate contained a limitation that the pilot must wear corrective lenses. The pilot’s logbook contained entries dated between March 30, 2001, and March 24, 2011. According to the logbook the pilot had a total flight time of about 916 hours, of which, 71 hours were in the accident make and model of airplane. The pilot had worked for Wilbur-Ellis for approximately 1 1/2 years prior to the accident.

AIRCRAFT INFORMATION

The single-seat, low-wing, conventional-gear airplane, serial number 36-7760046, was manufactured in 1977. The airplane was registered to the operator. The total time on the airframe at the time of the accident was not determined. However, the airplane had an annual inspection completed on June 1, 2011, at which time the total airframe time was recorded as being 2,848 hours. The airplane was powered by a 300-horsepower, Lycoming IO-540-K1G5 engine, serial number L-21944-48A. The factory overhauled engine was installed in the airplane on July 18, 1994. The last annual inspection performed on the engine was on June 1, 2011. The time since major overhaul listed at the time of the inspection was 900 hours. The airplane was equipped with a SATLOC Airstar global positioning system. The M-3 box which records and stores historical track data was not located after the accident.

METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION

A review of the recorded surface observation weather data from the Pierre Regional Airport (PIR), Pierre, South Dakota, located 50 miles west of the accident site, revealed conditions at 1153 were: wind from 250 at 14 knots gusting to 23 knots; visibility 10 miles; few clouds at 3,100 feet above ground level; temperature 23 degrees Celsius; dew point 16 degree Celsius; and altimeter setting 29.65 inches of mercury.

WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION

The wreckage was located in an open field about one quarter mile east of the field that the pilot was spraying. The initial impact resulted in 1 1/2 foot deep crater in the ground. The engine was separated from the airframe and located near the initial ground impact. The airplane was located about 30 feet beyond the engine. Both of the main gear separated from the airframe and were located beyond the main wreckage. The airplane came to rest on its left side. The cockpit and forward fuselage area sustained substantial impact damage. The empennage remained attached to the fuselage. The horizontal stabilizer, elevator, vertical stabilizer, and rudder received minor impact damage. Both wings remained partially attached to the fuselage. A substantial amount of impact damage was visible along the leading edge of both wings. The right wing tip sustained minor impact damage and it was partially attached to the wing. The right wing aileron and flap remained attached to the wing. The left wing tip was crushed. The left wing strobe and navigation lights were located near the initial impact mark. The left wing flap remained attached to the wing. The left wing aileron was separated from the wing and it was located near the main wreckage. Control cable continuity was established to the elevator, rudder, and right aileron. The left aileron control cable continuity was established from the cockpit to the wing. The engine sustained substantial impact damage. The engine crankshaft could not be fully rotated by hand due to impact damage along with the bending and twisting of the propeller blades. Both magnetos were removed from the engine for examination. The left magneto produced a spark on all terminals when rotated by hand. The right magneto sustained impact damage and would not produce a spark. The magneto was opened and it was determined that the insulator on the contact point assembly was fractured.

MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION

An autopsy was performed on the pilot on June 20, 2011, by the clinical Laboratory of the Black Hills, Rapid City, South Dakota. The final diagnosis was reported as multiple blunt force injuries, cardiomegaly, and hepatic steatosis. Forensic toxicology was performed on specimens from the pilot by the FAA Bioaeronautical Sciences Research Laboratory, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The toxicology report stated no ethanol or drugs were found in the blood. The pilot departed for the flight to spray a field located about 4 miles north of the airport. When the pilot did not return within the expected time frame, the operator sent airplanes out to look for him. The wreckage was located in an open field about 1/4 mile from the field that was being sprayed. No witnesses to the accident were identified; however, one person reported seeing the airplane spraying in the area. Impact damage indicated that the airplane struck the terrain in a steep nose-down, left-wing-low attitude, consistent with a loss of control event. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of any failures or malfunctions with either the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2011_CEN11LA399.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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