Piper PA28 accident near Gann Valley, South Dakota, September 27, 2008
On September 27, 2008 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Piper PA28, registered N6266J, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Gann Valley, South Dakota (Private Airstrip airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inability to gain sufficient altitude during takeoff as a result of inadequate preflight planning.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 27, 2008 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Gann Valley, South Dakota · Private Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA28 140 · all PA28s on the register
- Registration
- N6266J · no longer on the register · serial 28-7625237
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot agreed to take the non-pilot rated aircraft owner and a passenger on a local flight. The pilot reported that during takeoff, he was not able to gain sufficient altitude to clear a fence off the departure end of the runway. The landing gear contacted the fence and the airplane continued forward until it contacted an embankment. The pilot stated he was not familiar with this particular airplane and airport, and that he should have had a greater safety margin on which to base his midfield go/no-go decision.
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
- Collision during takeoff/land during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- factor Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Fence/fence post › Contributed to outcome
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Sloped/uneven › Contributed to outcome
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Aircraft capability › Climb capability › Capability exceeded
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Performance calculations › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,326 hours in all; 79 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 1,285 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 23, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,394 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 2008
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PVT Gann Valley SD at 7:30 pm
- Destination: PVT Gann Valley SD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,000 ft by 16 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.