Amateur-built GlaStar accident near Mitchell, South Dakota, July 26, 2019
On July 26, 2019 at about 6:30 pm local time, a amateur-built GlaStar, registered N98PW, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Mitchell, South Dakota (Mitchell Municipal airport). 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
A loss of directional control on landing for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 26, 2019 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Mitchell, South Dakota · Mitchell Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built GlaStar
- Registration
- N98PW · no longer on the register · serial 5204
- 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 he departed on a multileg cross-country flight with several planned refueling stops. He had no difficulty landing at the first stop. During the landing at the second stop, the airplane veered hard to the right. The pilot applied left rudder but was unable to turn the airplane back toward the runway. He applied full throttle in an attempt to go around. The airplane continued through the grass and struck a berm, which resulted in substantial damage to the airplane. A mechanic later examined the airplane and reported that the brake functioned normally and that the right tire showed no evidence of a flat spot or skid marks on the tire tread. The pilot said he did not believe the right wheel had "locked up" but rather that the right brake had become stuck and would not release. Investigators were not able to determine why the airplane veered on landing.
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 defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,803 hours in all; 119 in this make and model; 96 in the last 90 days; 49 in the last 30 days; 1,669 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 2, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 559 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, June 11, 2019; 34 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,960 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-320-DIF (piston); 559 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RST Rochester MN at 4:00 pm
- Destination: RST Rochester MN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 5,513 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from MHE
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on September 30, 2019. 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 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pertinent E-mails from Pilot and FAA | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Report Photos | PDF, 5 pages | 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.