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Accidents · NTSB CHI94LA108 · Final report

Piper PA-18-150 accident near Ottumwa, South Dakota, March 11, 1994

On March 11, 1994, a Piper PA-18-150, registered N14395, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ottumwa, South Dakota. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).

The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged

inadequate compensation for wind conditions and the pilot's failure to maintain directional control. Factors related to the accident were the crosswind and the fence posts.

Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
March 11, 1994 · cases in 1994
Place
Ottumwa, South Dakota · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Piper PA-18-150 · all PA-18-150s on the register
Registration
N14395 · registry record · serial 18-7409093
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

THE PILOT WAS MAKING AN OFF AIRPORT LANDING ON A GRAVEL ROAD WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. HE WAS LANDING TO THE SOUTH WITH WINDS FROM AN EASTERLY DIRECTION AT 12 KNOTS GUSTING TO 15 KNOTS. THE PILOT STATED THAT WHEN HE REACHED A CREST IN THE ROAD, THE AIRPLANE WEATHER VANED INTO THE WIND AND THE LEFT WING CONTACTED A FENCE POST. THE AIRPLANE THEN VEERED 90 DEGREES AND THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR CONTACTED ANOTHER POST.

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
  • Flight time: 2,000 hours in all; 350 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 1,600 as pilot in command
  • Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
  • Seat: frt

The aircraft

  • Airframe total time: 6,325 hours
  • Last inspection: annual inspection, August 16, 1993; 4 hours since
  • Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
  • Seats: 2
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total

The flight

  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 0

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Wind: from 100° at 18 knots
  • Visibility: 45 statute miles
  • Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
  • Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
  • Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
  • Observation at 10:56 pm from PIR

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew1

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.

Connections how this case links to the rest of the register

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Analytics

The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CHI94LA108.json.

The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.

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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.