# Accident 19990930030749A: Piper PA28181, Hermosa, SD, September 30, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 30, 1999
- Place: Hermosa, SD
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 43.8399° N, 103.1893° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.8399&lon=-103.1893&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3889F, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3889F-2017-03-06) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-181 (registry code 7102807, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 series (registry code 41514, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA28181
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI99LA355](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI99LA355) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990930030749A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(.19) ON SEPTEMBER 30, 1999, AT 0700 MOUNTAIN DAYLIGHT TIME (MDT), A PIPER PA-28-181, N3889F, OPERATED BY A COMMERCIAL PILOT, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHEN THE AIRPLANE'S RIGHT WING STRUCK A FENCE POST, DURING A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING ON A DIRT ROAD, 10 MILES SOUTHWEST OF HERMOSA, SOUTH DAKOTA. PRECEDING THE PRECAUTIONARY LANDING, THE AIRPLANE EXPERIENCED AN INTERMITTENT LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT.  VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.  THE FERRY FLIGHT WAS BEING CONDUCTED UNDER 14 CFR PART 91.  THERE WAS NO FLIGHT PLAN ON FILE.  THE PILOT REPORTED NO INJURIES.  A PILOT-RATED PASSENGER, ON BOARD, RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES.  THE CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT CASPER, WYOMING, AND WAS EN ROUTE TO RAPID CITY, SOUTH DAKOTA. IN HIS STATEMENT TO A FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION (FAA) INSPECTOR, THE PILOT SAID THAT THEY WERE CROSSING THE BLACK HILLS NEAR CUSTER, SOUTH DAKOTA, AT 7,500 FEET MEAN SEA LEVEL (MSL), WHEN THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE LOST POWER.  THEY REGAINED ENGINE POWER, THEN THEY LOST POWER AGAIN.  THE POWER WOULD GO ON AND OFF.  THE PILOT SAID THAT HE ELECTED TO LAND THE AIRPLANE ON A DIRT ROAD.  DURING THE LANDING, THE A IRPLANE STRUCK A FENCE POST, SPUN AROUND AND STOPPED. (-23) SEE CHI99LA355

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CHI99LA355](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI99LA355), Sep 30, 1999: Piper PA-28-181 (N3889F), Hermosa, SD, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's improper fuel management, improper in-flight decision and the precautionary landing. Factors relating to this accident were the pilot's inadequate preflight planning and the fence post.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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