Piper PA-28-180 accident near Irene, South Dakota, July 31, 2024
On July 31, 2024 at about 12:20 pm local time, a 1966 Piper PA-28-180, registered N903US, was destroyed in an accident during enroute near Irene, South Dakota. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s poor decision to continue the flight into deteriorating weather conditions and his failure to maintain a safe altitude, which resulted in controlled flight into trees and terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 31, 2024 · about 12:20 pm local time
- Place
- Irene, South Dakota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180, built 1966 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N903US · registry record · serial 28-3068
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The non-instrument-rated pilot departed from an airport where visual meteorological weather conditions prevailed. As the flight progressed, the visibility and ceilings decreased. Flight track data showed that, during the flight, the airplane began a steady descent that continued to the end of the data. The airplane struck trees and terrain, and a postimpact fire ensued which destroyed the airplane. Examination of the airplane did not reveal any preimpact anomalies that would have precluded normal operations. The individual who found the accident site reported that he was driving on the adjacent road and saw the glow of a fire through dense fog, which led him to discover the accident site. The destination airport, about 13 nautical miles (nm) from the accident site, reported instrument flight rules weather conditions for several hours before the airplane’s departure. There was no evidence that the pilot obtained a weather briefing before the flight, and weather sources that he may have accessed before the flight were not known. The pilot had coronary artery disease that was associated with increased risk of an impairing or incapacitating cardiovascular event, such as chest pain, arrhythmia, or heart attack. There was no autopsy evidence that such an event occurred, although such an event cannot be excluded by autopsy evidence alone. Based on the available evidence, it is most likely that the pilot continued flight into deteriorating weather conditions, and due to the low visibility, was unable to detect a descent and remain clear of trees and terrain. The damage to the airplane and witness marks at the accident site are consistent with controlled flight into trees and terrain.
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
- VFR encounter with IMC during enroute defining event
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during enroute
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Ceiling/visibility/precip › Below VFR minima › Effect on operation
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Effect on operation
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 280.8 hours in all; 18.3 in the last 90 days; 6.5 in the last 30 days; 124.7 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 17, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A3A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: FSD Sioux Falls SD at 12:01 pm
- Destination: YKN Yankton SD
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 0.2 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 200 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.77 inHg
- Observation at 7:16 am from KYKN, 13 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KYKN 311216Z AUTO 10006KT 1/4SM FG BKN002 OVC019 22/22 A2977 RMK AO2 $
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN24FA295.