- Date
- August 31, 1997, 19:00 local (Sep 1, 1997, 01:00 UTC)
- Place
- Castlewood, SD
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N2743PPiper PA-22
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Status
- Completed · report July 23, 1999
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19970831024779A
- Case key
- 10690
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from the trees.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
According to the pilot-in-command, the purpose of the flight was to fly over one of his passenger's farm. The pilot stated that the flight was, 'At a low level.' The pilot reported that as the airplane approached the accident location something fell off the dashboard and he leaned forward and down to identify what it was. The pilot stated that, 'As I leaned down, I apparently forced the yoke forward, lowering the attitude.' The pilot reported that when he looked up, 'it was too late, the trees were right in front of me. I gave back pressure on the elevator, but again too late and struck the trees.' The pilot stated that the aircraft still was able to climb and that there were tree branches hanging on the wing. The pilot reported that he noticed that the elevator had limited deflection and decided to make a precautionary landing in a nearby field. Post accident investigation showed substantial damage to the right wing spar, elevator, and vertical stabilizer.
Factual narrative
On August 31, 1997, at 1900 central daylight time, a Piper PA-22, N2743P, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage after it collided with trees while maneuvering near Castlewood, South Dakota. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 and was not on a flight plan. The pilot and two passengers reported no injuries. The local flight departed a private airstrip near Castlewood, South Dakota at 1845.
According to the pilot-in-command's written statement, the purpose of the flight was to fly over one of his passenger's farm. The pilot stated that the flight was, "At a low level." The pilot reported that as the airplane was nearing the accident location something fell off the dashboard and he leaned forward and down to identify what it was. The pilot stated that, "As I leaned down, I apparently forced the yoke forward, lowering the attitude." The pilot reported that when he looked up, "it was too late, the trees were right in front of me. I gave back pressure on the elevator, but again too late and struck the trees." The pilot stated that the aircraft still was able to climb and that there were tree branches hanging on the wing. The pilot reported that he noticed that the elevator had limited deflection and decided to make a precautionary landing in a nearby field.
Post accident investigation showed substantial damage to the right wing spar, elevator, and vertical stabilizer.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2743P
- Reported as
- Piper PA-22
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 22-3050
- Airframe hours
- 2,943
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-A2B, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- J & J Aviation Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 31, 1997 · 1 hours before
- Departed
- PVT
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 53
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Expired
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 3,100 total · 650 in this make and model · 3,051 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Wind
- 160° at 11 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 73 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- ATY, 335 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.