Cessna 140 accident near Highmore, South Dakota, December 24, 2008
On December 24, 2008 at about 7:15 pm local time, a Cessna 140, registered N89418, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Highmore, South Dakota (Quirk Field (Private)). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the flare while landing in deep snow.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 24, 2008 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Highmore, South Dakota · Quirk Field (Private) · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 140 · all 140s on the register
- Registration
- N89418 · no longer on the register · serial 8450
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that during approach to his private landing strip, the airplane ballooned. He stated that when the airplane came back down it was angled about 20 degrees from the runway centerline. He said that at this point there was less than 100 feet to the edge of the runway and the right wheel contacted snow about 10 to 12 inches deep. He stated that the deep snow "pulled [him] in" and that the airplane then nosed over. The damage to the airplane consisted of a bent rudder and a bent vertical stabilizer.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Nose over/nose down during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Snowy/icy › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 116 hours in all; 24 in this make and model
- Last flight review: September 26, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,000 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 24, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor C90 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PVT Highmore SD at 6:30 pm
- Destination: PVT Highmore SD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 2,000 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 9°F (-13°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from PIR, 37 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.