Champion 7KCAB accident near Hill City, South Dakota, July 4, 1991
On July 4, 1991 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Champion 7KCAB, registered N1844G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hill City, South Dakota (Kelly airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
POOR PREFLIGHT PLANNING BY THE PILOT AND OVER CONFIDENCE IN THE AIRCRAFTS ABILITY. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE A HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE AND A PROPER CLIMB RATE NOT ATTAINED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 4, 1991 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Hill City, South Dakota · Kelly · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Champion 7KCAB · all 7KCABs on the register
- Registration
- N1844G · registry record · serial 84
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT SAID THAT AFTER LIFT OFF HE WAS UNABLE TO CLIMB AND AVOID POWER LINES AT THE END OF THE FIELD. FLIGHT WAS ATTEMPTED UNDER HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE CONDITIONS FROM A 1100 FOOT STRIP. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH THE POWER LINES, THEN THE TERRAIN. DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS ABOUT 8300 FEET MSL.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 22,390 hours in all; 2,085 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 2,179 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 1,100 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 102°F (39°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from RAP, 20 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.