20240731009239A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Piper PA-28-180 · Yankton, SD · July 31, 2024

Date: July 31, 2024 · 07:48 local
Place: Yankton, SD
Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N903US
NTSB investigation: NTSBCEN24FA295
Reported as: Piper PA-28-180
Reported engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 series
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 1
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 280 total18 in the last 90 days

N903USRegistered now · Piper PA-28-180S/N 28-3068 · Built 1966 Airframe modelPiper PA-28-180 Engine modelLycoming O&VO-360 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

On July 31, 2024 at 0748 a Piper PA-28-180 owned by privacy data omitted was involved in a fatal accident during cruise flights during a personal flight. IMC conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft was destroyed, and the pilot suffered fatal injuries. The pilot held a private pilot sel certificate. The flight originated at sioux falls, SD (fsd) on July 31, 2024 at approximately 0709.

As the FAA filed it

ON JULY 31, 2024 AT 0748 A PIPER PA-28-180 OWNED BY ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WAS INVOLVED IN A FATAL ACCIDENT DURING CRUISE FLIGHTS DURING A PERSONAL FLIGHT. IMC CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED, AND THE PILOT SUFFERED FATAL INJURIES. THE PILOT HELD A PRIVATE PILOT SEL CERTIFICATE. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT SIOUX FALLS, SD (FSD) ON JULY 31, 2024 AT APPROXIMATELY 0709.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB CEN24FA295Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportIrene, SDThe pilot’s poor decision to continue the flight into deteriorating weather conditions and his failure to maintain a safe altitude, which resulted in controlled flight into trees and terrain.Jul 31, 2024 · Destroyed