Cessna 172M accident near Aberdeen, South Dakota, September 15, 1990
On September 15, 1990 at about 3:15 pm local time, a Cessna 172M, registered N73059, was destroyed in an accident near Aberdeen, South Dakota. It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A SAFE AIRSPEED RESULTING IN AN INADVERTENT STALL/SPIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 15, 1990 · about 3:15 pm local time
- Place
- Aberdeen, South Dakota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N73059 · no longer on the register · serial 17267254
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS BUZZING A FARMER'S SUNFLOWER FIELDS TO CHASE AWAY THE BLACKBIRDS WHICH WERE EATING THE SUNFLOWER SEEDS. HE HAD BEEN DOING THIS DAILY FOR TWO WEEKS. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS OPERATING AT APPROXIMATELY 50-75 FEET WHEN IT STARTED A CLIMB TO APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET. THE AIRCRAFT THEN ENTERED A SPIN AND IMPACTED NOSE DOWN IN THE SUNFLOWER FIELD.
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; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 565 hours in all; 218 in this make and model; 82 in the last 90 days; 63 in the last 30 days; 497 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,563 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 8, 1990; 118 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ABR Aberdeen SD at 2:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:50 pm from ABR, 15 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.