# NTSB DEN83FTK04: Piper PA-28-181, N8422U, Box Elder, SD, August 21, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report
- Date: August 21, 1983, 14:34 local (20:34 UTC)
- Place: Box Elder, SD
- Coordinates: 44.110149, -103.069938 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.1101&lon=-103.0699&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 3 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16021
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN83FTK04
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16021/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN83FTK04

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise
  - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - fuel supply - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, landing
  - radar assistance to vfr aircraft - inadequate, atc personnel(dep/apch) (cause)
- In flight collision with object, landing
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

BEFORE REACHING HIS DESTINATION, THE PLT CONTACTED APCH CONTROL & REPORTED THAT HE WAS ABOUT 40 MI AWAY & WAS LOW ON FUEL. ABOUT 10 MIN LATER, THE ACFT RAN OUT OF FUEL. THE PLT STATED THAT HE 'COULD POSSIBLY MAKE ELLSWORTH' BUT THE CONTROLLER TOLD HIM THAT ELLSWORTH AFB WAS CLOSED (FOR AN AIRSHOW). THE PLT THEN TURNED AWAY FROM THE AFB & SUBSEQUENTLY CRASHED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LAND IN A FIELD. INITIAL IMPACT WAS WITH A TREE. THE ACFT THEN CRASHED TO THE GROUND & CAME TO REST IN A CREEK. THE PLT'S WIFE SUFFERED A BROKEN LEG & WAS UNCONSCIOUS FOR 5 DAYS. SHE NEARLY DROWNED AFTER THE PLANE CRASHED, BUT THE PLT & ANOTHER PERSON HELD HER HEAD OUT OF WATER UNTIL SHE COULD BE EXTRICATED FROM THE WRECKAGE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8422U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8422U-1984-05-26), registration cancelled 1984-05-26, S/N 28-8190297 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-181
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-8190297
- Airframe hours: 846
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: James Anthony Rieganek
- Registered owner: Donald P. & Evelyn F. Huckeby
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 29, 1983, 33 hours before
- Departed: LXL, LITTLE FALLS, MN
- Destination: RAP, RAPID CITY, SD
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 82 total, 21 in this make and model, 336 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 60° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 35 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: RAP, 4 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19830821043309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830821043309A), Aug 21, 1983: Piper PA28181, Box Elder, SD, Destroyed. Ran out of fuel en route. ATC advised nearby afb closed for airshow. Crashed in trees. Possible fuel siphoning.

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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