Piper PA-28-160 accident near Yankton, South Dakota, April 24, 1993
On April 24, 1993 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-160, registered N5548W, was destroyed in an accident near Yankton, South Dakota. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER CLEARANCE. GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS WERE A FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 24, 1993 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Yankton, South Dakota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-160 · all PA-28-160s on the register
- Registration
- N5548W · no longer on the register · serial L-5045-39
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING AN INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT, WHILE PRACTICING EMERGENCY LANDINGS OVER A SOD FIELD, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK POWERLINES, SHEARING OFF PART OF THE RIGHT WING. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND APPROXIMATELY 300 FEET EAST OF THE FRAYED CABLE, AND THEN ROLLED ANOTHER 75 FEET EAST WHERE IT WAS FOUND. THE STUDENT PILOT STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT AND ENGINE HAD BEEN OPERATING NORMALLY THE ENTIRE FLIGHT PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,833 hours in all; 36 in this make and model; 55 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 3,754 as pilot in command; 845 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,660 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 18, 1992; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Amrerican Leasing, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: YKN at 7:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 033° at 12 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:32 pm from YKN, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.