# NTSB DEN88LA153: Piper PA-22-150, Spearfish, SD, July 11, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 11, 1988, 14:50 local (20:50 UTC)
- Place: Spearfish, SD
- Coordinates: 44.479598, -103.839797 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.4796&lon=-103.8398&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 8, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17500
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN88LA153
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17500/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN88LA153

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor)
  - climb - not possible (cause)
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ACCIDENT INVOLVED A TRI-PACER WITH FOUR PERSONS AND ABOUT 150 POUNDS OF BAGGAGE ON BOARD WHO WERE FROM CANADA AND VACATIONING IN THE U.S. THE PILOT SAID THE ACFT BECAME AIRBORNE AND CLIMBED TO ABOUT 100 FT ABOVE THE RWY, BUT WOULD NOT MAINTAIN ALTITUDE DUE TO THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE. THE PILOT DECIDED TO LAND IN A FIELD, BUT THE FIELD WAS ROUGH AND UNEVEN WHICH RESULTED IN DAMAGE TO THE ACFT. THE DENSITY ALTITUDE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WAS CALCULATED TO BE ABOUT 6,000 FEET.

## Aircraft

- Registration: CGCCF (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-22-150
- Category: Airplane
- Airframe hours: 3644
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A1A 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Ned Shillington
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, June 15, 1988, 24 hours before
- Departed: SPF
- Destination: BFF, SCOTTSBLUFF, NE
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: SPF, Spearfish

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,300 total, 1,250 in this make and model, 1,250 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 110° at 25 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

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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