Amateur-built Sorrell SNS-7 accident near Highmore, South Dakota, December 6, 2003
On December 6, 2003 at about 4:30 pm local time, a amateur-built Sorrell SNS-7, registered N7543E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Highmore, South Dakota. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The unsuitable terrain for landing encountered by the pilot. Contributing factors were the grass runway surface and the snowbank.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 6, 2003 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Highmore, South Dakota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Sorrell SNS-7
- Registration
- N7543E · registry record · serial 247
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The amateur-built experimental biplane was substantially damaged when it hit a snow bank and nosed over during landing. The pilot reported that prior to the flight he contacted the owner of the private grass strip to verify runway condition. The owner reportedly indicated that the runway was acceptable for use. The pilot noted that upon arrival the wind was from the southeast about 10 miles per hour. He stated that he set-up and landed to the south. "After landing, I hit a small snowdrift, added power and the plane nosed over," according to the pilot. He reported no failures or malfunctions with the aircraft or engine prior to the accident.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 3,123 hours in all; 553 in this make and model; 42 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 3,123 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 20, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 727 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, November 14, 2003; 13 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,911 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DGW Douglas WY at 2:15 pm
- Destination: PVT Highmore SD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 21 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.85 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from PIR, 48 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.