# NTSB investigations, SD: Loss of control in flight

NTSB aviation accident and incident investigations since 1962: the probable cause, findings, aircraft, crew, weather and docket of each, linked to the FAA registry and the FAA’s own reports.

## Latest cases

- [NTSB CEN25LA218](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA218.md): Piper PA-36-375 · Huron, SD · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jun 19, 2025 · N6174A · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack during a low-level aerial application, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and loss of airplane control at too low of an altitude to recover.
- [NTSB CEN22FA433](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22FA433.md): Airgyro AG915 · Yankton, SD · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Sep 27, 2022 · N499AG · Destroyed
  > A loss of control while an in-flight fire occurred, which resulted in an impact with terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot/builder’s improper engine build procedures.
- [NTSB CEN22LA245](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA245.md): Cessna 305 · Sioux Falls, SD · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jun 10, 2022 · N201FM · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control after an attempted go-around, which resulted in a runway excursion and impact with terrain.
- [NTSB CEN22FA109](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22FA109.md): Christavia MK1 · Oral, SD · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Jan 31, 2022 · N3177F · Substantial damage
  > The noncertificated pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane, which led to the airplane exceeding its critical angle-of-attack and subsequent aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to attempt a flight with no…
- [NTSB CEN20LA389](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20LA389.md): Champion 8KCAB · Groton, SD · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Sep 13, 2020 · N83DH · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s loss of airplane control during a low-altitude aerobatic maneuver.
- [NTSB CEN20FA022](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20FA022.md): Pilatus PC12 · Chamberlain, SD · Accident · 9 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Nov 30, 2019 · N56KJ · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s loss of control shortly after takeoff, which resulted in an inadvertent, low-altitude aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s improper loading of the airplane, which resulted in reduced static longitudinal stability and his…
- [NTSB CEN19FA307](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19FA307.md): Cessna 140 · Lakeview, SD · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Sep 8, 2019 · N73000 · Substantial damage
  > The student pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane, which resulted in the exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle-of-attack, an aerodynamic stall, and subsequent impact with terrain, and the student pilot’s non-compliance and lack of…
- [NTSB CEN19FA021](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19FA021.md): Cessna 210 · Bradley, SD · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Nov 2, 2018 · N81KD · Destroyed
  > The non-instrument-rated pilot's improper decision to conduct a flight in which instrument meteorological conditions existed along the route of flight, which resulted in spatial disorientation and a loss of airplane control.
- [NTSB CEN18LA306](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA306.md): Bell 47G 3B · Custer, SD · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Aug 2, 2018 · N347BH · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s mismanagement of rotor RPM and subsequent forced landing on uneven terrain which led to a dynamic rollover.
- [NTSB GAA17CA513](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA513.md): Cessna 172 · Belle Fourche, SD · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Aug 30, 2017 · N2982U · Substantial damage
  > The flight instructor's failure to maintain adequate airspeed and his exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack during a go-around in gusting crosswind conditions, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.
- [NTSB CEN17FA132](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17FA132.md): Cessna 210B · Opal, SD · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Mar 16, 2017 · N9581X · Destroyed
  > The pilot's loss of airplane control for reasons that could not be determined due to a lack of evidence.
- [NTSB CEN16FA344](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16FA344.md): Aves Douglas James RV 6 · Viborg, SD · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Sep 2, 2016 · N676DT · Destroyed
  > The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control, which resulted in the airplane exceeding its critical angle of attack, an aerodynamic stall, and subsequent flat spin into terrain.
- [NTSB CEN16FA209](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16FA209.md): Pruss Richard S Kitfox IV · De Smet, SD · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jun 7, 2016 · N921RP · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed and his exceedance of the airplane's critical angle-of-attack during a steep turn at a low altitude, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall/spin at too low of an altitude to recover.
- [NTSB GAA16CA022](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA022.md): Cessna 180H · Sioux Falls, SD · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Oct 19, 2015 · N9780G · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's decision to land with a 20 knot direct cross wind, which resulted in a loss of directional control and the right wing impacting terrain and a subsequent ground loop.
- [NTSB CEN15LA306](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA306.md): Air Creation Clipper 582 · Clark, SD · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 14, 2015 · UNREG · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's inability to maintain control of the weight-shift control aircraft during initial climb due to his impairment from ethanol, methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana.
- [NTSB CEN15FA264](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15FA264.md): Bellanca 7GCBC · Kadoka, SD · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jun 8, 2015 · N11698 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain sufficient airspeed during the initial climb after takeoff, which resulted in the airplane’s wing exceeding its critical angle-of-attack and a subsequent aerodynamic stall.
- [NTSB CEN15CA160](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15CA160.md): Zenith Acft Stol CH 701 · Marion, SD · Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report · Feb 27, 2015 · N511QC · Substantial damage
  > The pilot failed to maintain control of the airplane while maneuvering to land resulting in contact with a power line and the ground. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of familiarity with the airplane.
- [NTSB CEN14CA317](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14CA317.md): Quicksilver Enterprises MXL II Sport · Watertown, SD · Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jun 19, 2014 · N4474P · Substantial damage
  > The uncertificated pilot's loss of control while maneuvering at low altitude.
- [NTSB CEN13FA324](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13FA324.md): Weatherly 620B · Ludlow, SD · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jun 7, 2013 · N350WR · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane while maneuvering, which resulted in an inadvertent stall. Contributing to the accident was task- and/or work-related fatigue.
- [NTSB CEN13CA108](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13CA108.md): Piper PA-18-150 · Okaton, SD · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Dec 11, 2012 · N3471Z · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to perform an adequate preflight inspection of the airplane and obstruction of the aileron control system by snow and ice, which led to a loss of control during flight.
- [NTSB CEN12LA634](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA634.md): North Wing Design Apache Sport · Vermillion, SD · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Sep 14, 2012 · N850GB · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the weight-shift-control aircraft during initial climb, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall/spin.
- [NTSB CEN12FA579](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12FA579.md): Lee Paul SQ 2000 · Pierre, SD · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Aug 28, 2012 · N416 · Substantial damage
  > The airplane's entry into a pilot-induced oscillation and the pilot’s loss of airplane control during the takeoff initial climb. Contributing to the accident was the left entrance door opening in flight for undetermined reasons.
- [NTSB CEN11LA452](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11LA452.md): Cessna A188A · Estelline, SD · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 28, 2011 · N1588M · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during takeoff for undetermined reasons because the pilot did not recall the accident.
- [NTSB CEN11LA399](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11LA399.md): Piper PA-36-300 · Highmore, SD · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 17, 2011 · N57885 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot did not maintain control of the airplane while maneuvering at low altitude.
- [NTSB CEN10CA415](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10CA415.md): Skykits Savannah VGW · Bison, SD · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 7, 2010 · N391EU · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane after encountering a gust of wind while taking off with a crosswind.
- [NTSB CEN10LA275](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10LA275.md): Bellanca 7GCBC · Watertown, SD · Accident · 2 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · May 29, 2010 · N88399 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's loss of airplane control while conducting aerobatic, low-altitude maneuvers. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's impairmant due to alcohol.
- [NTSB CEN09LA523](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09LA523.md): From Here To There PDQ RV-8 · Tea, SD · Accident · 2 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Aug 16, 2009 · N98AW · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during recovery from an aerobatic maneuver.
- [NTSB CHI08CA232](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI08CA232.md): Piper PA-18-150 · Wall, SD · Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report · Aug 3, 2008 · N5951Z · Substantial damage
  > The pilot not maintaining airplane control during the landing. Contributing to the accident was the reported wind shear.

## The whole list in SQL

Runs in DuckDB 1.2 or later on the release's Parquet files over HTTPS:

```sql
SELECT c."ntsbNumber", c."eventDate", c."eventType", c."eventCity", c."eventStateOrRegion", a.n_number, a."aircraftMake", a."aircraftModel", c."highestInjuryLevel", c."totalFatal", c."completionStatus", c.report_url
FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c."mKey" AND a.position = 1
WHERE c."eventStateOrRegion" = 'SD' AND c."eventCountry" = 'USA'
  AND c."mKey" IN (SELECT e.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' e WHERE e."isDefiningEvent" AND e."tier2Number" = '240')
ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC
```

This list as a web page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/cases?state=SD

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OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.