Piper PA 28-140 accident near Wishek, North Dakota, June 9, 2016
On June 9, 2016 at about 8:21 pm local time, a 1964 Piper PA 28-140, registered N6223W, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Wishek, North Dakota (Wishek Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during a climbing turn after takeoff, which resulted in the airplane exceeding its critical angle of attack and an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's self-induced pressure to quickly transport his cousin for urgent dental care.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 9, 2016 · about 8:21 pm local time
- Place
- Wishek, North Dakota · Wishek Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 28-140, built 1964 · all PA 28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N6223W · no longer on the register · serial 28-20264
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot was flying his aunt and cousin to a location where his cousin could receive urgent dental care. The pilot was a member of the flying club that owned the airplane, and another member of the flying club reported that he thought that the pilot and his passengers were rushing as they prepared to leave. A witness located on the airport ramp saw the airplane take off, climb with a nose-high attitude, turn right, and rapidly pitch down to a nose-low attitude. The airplane was found in a lake 1/2 mile from the airport. Downloaded data from an onboard GPS navigation device were consistent with the observations of the witness and indicated that the airplane began to turn right at 160 ft above ground level with a groundspeed of 48 knots. The right turn continued for 20 seconds during which time the airplane climbed about 40 ft and its groundspeed ranged from 53 to 59 knots. The airplane then rapidly descended into the lake. The damage to the airplane indicated that it impacted the lake in a near-vertical, nose-down attitude with low forward velocity. Examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The GPS data, the witness report, and the damage to the airplane were consistent with the pilot failing to maintain sufficient airspeed during a climbing turn after takeoff, which resulted in the airplane's wing exceeding its critical angle of attack and an aerodynamic stall. The purpose of the flight was for an urgent medical issue. The pilot's rushed activities before flight, and his actions immediately after takeoff to enter a climbing turn at low altitude without ensuring sufficient airspeed, are consistent with the effects of self-induced pressure.
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 in flight during initial climb defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
- factor Personnel issues › Psychological › Personality/attitude › Motivation/respond to pressure › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 60 hours in all; 22 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: November 9, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: fatal
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,459 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 2016; 21 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 3,459 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 6L5 Wishek ND at 8:21 pm
- Destination: BIS Bismarck ND
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 3,460 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.67 inHg
- Observation at 8:52 pm from KBIS, 60 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
8 documents, released by the NTSB on December 12, 2017. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GPS Factual Report | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Attachment 1 (GPS Data) | data file | Download |
| 3 | Conversion Memorandum | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Photos | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Witness Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Statement of Airplane's Co-owner | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Excerpt of Airplane Flight Manual | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 8 | Toxicological Report | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.