# NTSB DEN81FA027: Piper PA-28, N8390R, Chamberlain, SD, April 9, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: April 9, 1981
- Place: Chamberlain, SD · CHAMBERLAIN, SD
- Location: 43.7987° N, 99.3296° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Chamberlain, SD, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.7987&lon=-99.3296&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report April 27, 1982
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 126568
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN81FA027
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN81FA027

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3558   81/4/9    CHAMBERLAIN,SD      PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 37, 62 TOTAL
        TIME - 1300                    N8390R              PX-  2  0  0  BUSINESS                  HOURS, 58 IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - CHAMBERLAIN MUNI
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          CHAMBERLAIN,SD              MISSION,SD
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           GROUND-WATER LOOP-SWERVE                                 TAKEOFF: RUN
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INITIATED FLIGHT IN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISUSED OR FAILED TO USE FLAPS
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  RELATIVE BEARING OF WIND
          NONE                                                     LEFT CROSS WIND 248-292 DEGREES
        TEMPERATURE-F                                            WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
           71                                                      210
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           35                                                      VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- LCL PSNL RPRTD VRBL X-WND,GSTG 35-45KTS.FLAP HANDLE FOUND IN FULL DWN PSN.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: N8390R (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Chamberlain Muni

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19810409018579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810409018579A), Apr 9, 1981: Piper PA28140, Chamberlain, SD, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Pilot attempted downwind takeoff in high wind condition. Aircraft crashed and burned off end of runway.

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.

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