Piper PA-28-235 accident near Faulkton, South Dakota, September 9, 2005
On September 9, 2005 at about 8:00 am local time, a Piper PA-28-235, registered N8523W, was destroyed in an accident near Faulkton, South Dakota (Faulkton Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane due to spatial disorientation during initial climb after takeoff into night instrument meteorological conditions. Factors were the fog and the dark night.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 9, 2005 · about 8:00 am local time
- Place
- Faulkton, South Dakota · Faulkton Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-235 · all PA-28-235s on the register
- Registration
- N8523W · registry record · serial 28-10024
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was destroyed when it impacted the ground after departing an airport into instrument meteorological conditions at night. The airplane came to rest about 0.6 miles from the departure end of the runway. A fuel truck driver reported that he was called by local authorities about 0210 and informed that there was an airplane at the airport in need of fuel. He stated that he responded and serviced the airplane with 22 gallons of unleaded automotive fuel. He stated that as he was leaving the airport, he saw a small white light heading down the runway. A sheriff's dispatcher reported that she had received a call at 0210 from the pilot saying that he was "out of gas and trying to get home." She stated that she called a gasoline supplier who said that he would go to the airport. She stated that the supplier later called to inform her that he had given the pilot 22 gallons of "regular gas" and that the pilot was made aware that it was "regular gas." She stated that at 0300, she looked out of the west jail windows and noted that it was very foggy and she could only see 2 city blocks. Another witness also reported foggy conditions in the area at the time of the accident. The pilot did not have an instrument rating or a current medical certificate. A weather report for the nearest reporting facility indicated reduced visibility. The moon had set and did not rise again until the following afternoon. No pre impact anomalies were found with respect to the airplane.
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: 682 hours in all
- Last flight review: October 1, 1996
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,290 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 1, 2004; 13 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: OEO Osceola WI
- Destination: 0D8 Gettysburg SD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 3,000 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 150° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.79 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 am from KABR, 39 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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 CHI05LA261.