Piper PA-28-181 accident near Woonsocket, South Dakota, October 26, 1993
On October 26, 1993 at about 2:50 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-181, registered N39952, was destroyed in an accident near Woonsocket, South Dakota. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot misjudging the airplane's clearance under the wires. Factors related to the accident were the performance of a low pass and the wires which were contacted.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 26, 1993 · about 2:50 pm local time
- Place
- Woonsocket, South Dakota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N39952 · no longer on the register · serial 28-7990021
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED FLYING LOW OVER FARM FIELDS APPROXIMATELY 1 1/2 MILES SOUTHEAST OF THE ACCIDENT SITE. WITNESSES DRIVING ALONG A FOUR LANE HIGHWAY OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE FLYING PARALLEL, AND OVER THE HIGHWAY. THEY OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE FLY LOW OVER ANOTHER VEHICLE PRIOR TO COLLIDING WITH POWERLINES CROSSING THE ROAD. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND AND EXPLODED INTO FLAMES. THE VEHICLE THE AIRPLANE WAS FLYING LOW OVER WAS OCCUPIED BY THE PILOT'S FRIENDS.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 934 hours in all; 846 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: MHE Mitchell SD at 3:20 pm
- Destination: HON Huron SD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 15 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 4,100 ft; not recorded at 4,100 ft
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:50 pm from HON, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.