# NTSB DEN89LA108: Piper PA-28-180, N8272W, Milbank, SD, April 14, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 14, 1989, 07:52 local (13:52 UTC)
- Place: Milbank, SD
- Coordinates: 45.209522, -96.629562 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.2095&lon=-96.6296&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 19, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17698
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN89LA108
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17698/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN89LA108

## Probable cause

FAILURE BY THE PILOT TO ASSURE ADEQUATE REMOVAL OF FROST FROM THE AIRCRAFT WHICH RESULTED IN A STALL/MUSH.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, takeoff - initial climb
  - ice/frost removal from aircraft - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/mush (cause)
  - object - fence

## Analysis

THE PLT RPRTD THE ACFT SEEMED TO FUNCTION NORMALLY DRG THE TAKEOFF ROLL; HOWEVER, AFTER LIFT-OFF, IT WOULD NOT CLIMB ABOVE GROUND EFFECT. HE SAID IT JUST CLEARED LOW TREES APRX 300 TO 400 FT FROM THE END OF THE RWY, THEN IT STALLED INTO A FENCE. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND. BEFORE THE FLT, THE TEMP WAS SLIGHTLY BELOW FREEZING &THERE WAS FROST ON THE ACFT. A MECHANIC STATED THE FROST WAS WIPED OFF THE WINGS & TAIL BEFORE THE FLT. BEYOND THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY, THE TERRAIN WAS NOT SUITABLE FOR AN ABORTED TAKEOFF. ALSO, THE PLT RPRTD THAT THE FENCE 'SAVED THE DAY' AS THERE WERE SIGNIFICANT OBSTRUCTIONS BEYOND THE FENCE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8272W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8272W-1991-10-16), registration cancelled 1991-10-16, S/N 282426 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-180
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-2426
- Airframe hours: 2741
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A3A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Spiering, Eugene
- Registered owner: Eugene V Spiering
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 5, 1989, 5 hours before
- Destination: GETTYSBURG, SD
- Airport: Private Strip, runway 36, 1,700 × 60 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 413 total, 388 in this make and model, 9 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 36 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: ATY, 30 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 19890414008089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890414008089A), Apr 14, 1989: Piper PA28180, Milbank, SD, Substantial damage. Unable to sustain flight on climb out,stalled into a pasture fence. Possible carb ice and residual frost on airframe

## Other investigations on N8272W (1)

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.

- [NTSB FTW68D0600](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW68D0600), May 30, 1968: Piper PA-28 (N8272W), Wheeler, TX, substantial damage

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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