# Accident 20240731009239A: Piper PA-28-180, Yankton, SD, July 31, 2024

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 31, 2024, 07:48 local time
- Place: Yankton, SD
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 43.0725° N, 97.2151° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.0725&lon=-97.2151&mi=10
- Aircraft: N903US, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N903US) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-180 (registry code 7102808, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (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 PA-28-180
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O&VO-360 SER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 280 total, 18 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN24FA295](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24FA295) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240731009239A

## Narrative

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

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.

## 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 CEN24FA295](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24FA295), Jul 31, 2024: Piper PA-28-180 (N903US), Irene, SD, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The 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.

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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