Beech 65-B80 accident near Sioux Falls, South Dakota, February 8, 2001
On February 8, 2001 at about 2:30 am local time, a Beech 65-B80, registered N107BA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sioux Falls, South Dakota (Joe Foss Field). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot initiated the flight into known icing conditions which resulted in his ability to maintain control of the airplane. Factors associated with the accident were the ice accumulation and the company induced pressure for the pilot to make the flight into the adverse weather conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 8, 2001 · about 2:30 am local time
- Place
- Sioux Falls, South Dakota · Joe Foss Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Beech 65-B80 · all 65-B80s on the register
- Registration
- N107BA · registry record · serial LD-358
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane operating on a 14 CFR Part 135 cargo flight impacted the terrain during a circling approach at Sioux Falls after picking up ice which en route. During a weather briefing the pilot was informed that the weather at his destination airport was " two miles light freezing drizzle and fog eight hundred overcast for a ceiling ah their forecast til midnight is one mile variable four miles light freezing drizzle and fog five hundred overcast..." The briefer asked the pilot if he still wanted to go there and the pilot reported "Ya I guess they said I have to." The pilot reported that he began picking up ice approximately 50 miles from the destination and the accumulation increased as the flight progressed. The pilot informed ATC that he was picking up a lot of ice and ATC issued the VOR RWY 15 approach to the pilot. ATC asked the pilot if he wanted to fly the approach straight in or if he wanted to circle to land on runway 3. The pilot reported that he would circle. The pilot reported that while circling to land the airplane began to "shutter". He stated that the de-ice boots had become ineffective. The pilot reported he applied full power and the airplane continued to shutter at zero degrees bank. He continued to report, "It became apparent I could not make the runway at this point. I had to lower the nose to keep the aircraft from stalling. At approximately 50 feet I lowered the landing gear and crashed straight ahead into a highway dept. equipment storage yard." A post crash fire ensued. According to the pilot, he voiced his concerns regarding the weather for the flight to company dispatch personnel and requested to fly to an alternate airport; however, he was directed to fly to Sioux Falls.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 6,000 hours in all; 2,500 in this make and model; 120 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme
- Maximum gross weight: 8,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Lycoming IGSO-540-B1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming IGSO-540-B1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: AXN Alexandria MN at 1:25 am
- Destination: FSD Sioux Falls SD
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 03, 8,999 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 020° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 300 ft
- Temperature: 21°F (-6°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 2:32 am from SFD
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.