Piper PA-18-125 accident near Newell, South Dakota, May 26, 1991
On May 26, 1991 at about 4:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-18-125, registered N1799A, was destroyed in an accident near Newell, South Dakota. It was a business 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
AN INADVERTENT STALL/SPIN DURING MANEUVERING FLIGHT AND INADEQUATE REMEDIAL ACTION BY THE PILOT. FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ACCIDENT ARE THE PILOT'S DISREGARD FOR PROCEDURES AND DIRECTIVES AND INADEQUATE INITIAL TRAINING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 26, 1991 · about 4:45 pm local time
- Place
- Newell, South Dakota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18-125 · all PA-18-125s on the register
- Registration
- N1799A · no longer on the register · serial 181669
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT AND PASSENGER WERE USING THE AIRPLANE TO SEARCH FOR NEWBORN LIVESTOCK. A WITNESS SAW THE AIRPLANE, 'IN A SPIN. IT ROTATED TOW OR THREE TIMES COMPLETELY AROUND.' IT WENT OUT OF SIGHT BEHIND A HILL AND THE WITNESS SAW SMOKE AND FLAMES AND WENT TO THE SCENE. RECORDS SHOW THE PILOT'S LAST PERIOD OF DUAL INSTRUCTION, WHICH INCLUDED AN ENDORSEMENT FOR SOLO FLIGHT, ELEVEN MONTHS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. HE LISTED AN EXPERIENCE LEVEL OF 275 FLIGHT HOURS. NO MECHANICAL DEFECTS WERE FOUND IN THE AIRPLANE OR ENGINE.
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: student
- Flight time: 275 hours in all; 275 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming 0290 DTC (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Orwick Ranch
The flight
- Departed from: Newell SD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 15 knots
- Sky: broken clouds; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.