# NTSB DEN83LA065: Swearingen SA-26T, N737EF, Madison, SD, February 18, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 17, 1983, 20:50 local (Feb 18, 1983, 01:50 UTC)
- Place: Madison, SD
- Coordinates: 44.000064, -97.100456 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.0001&lon=-97.1005&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16042
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN83LA065
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16042/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN83LA065

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - snowbank (contributing factor)
  - distance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - landing gear,main gear shock absorbing strut - cracked (contributing factor)
  - clearance - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH A SNOWBANK 10 FEET BEYOND THE THRESHOLD DURING LANDING. AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE PILOT REPORTEDTHAT DURING THE FINAL APPROACH TO A LANDING ON RUNWAY 32, THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR CONTACTED A 2 FOOT HIGH SNOWBANK JUST BEYOND THE THRESHOLD LIGHTS. THE SCISSORS ASSEMBLY OF THE LEFT MAIN GEAR WAS BROKEN AND ALLOWED THE WHEEL TO ROTATE360 DEGREES ON THE AXIS OF THE STRUT. DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS MAINTAINED AND THE ACFT REMAINED ON THE RUNWAY. AT FIRST DAMAGE WAS THOUGHT TO BE MINIMAL. AFTER FURTHER INSPECTION FOR REPAIRS TO THE STRUCTURE THE DAMAGE WAS FOUND TO BE SUBSTANTIAL.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N737EF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N737EF-1993-03-18), registration cancelled 1993-03-18, S/N T2622 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SWEARINGEN SA-26T
- Registry model: [Swearingen SA26-T](https://openairdocs.org/model/swearingen-sa26-t) (registry code 8780102) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: T-26-22
- Airframe hours: 4015
- Engines: P&W PT6A-26 turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Brian E. Applewick
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 28, 1982, 93 hours before
- Departed: PIR, PIERRE, SD
- Destination: MDS, MADISON, SD
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: MDS, Madison, runway 32, 4,200 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 805 total, 297 in this make and model, 730 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 90° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 27 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Observed at: HON

## 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 19830217007609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830217007609A), Feb 17, 1983: Swrngn SA26T, Madison, SD, Substantial damage. Aircraft landing gear hit snowbank and caused substantial damage during landing.

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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