Cessna 150F accident near Castlewood, South Dakota, January 21, 1995
On January 21, 1995 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Cessna 150F, registered N8981S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Castlewood, South Dakota (Private airport). It was a personal 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's inadequate preflight planning and preparation. Factors associated with the accident are the snow covered/drifted runway, and a fence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 21, 1995 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Castlewood, South Dakota · Private · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150F · all 150Fs on the register
- Registration
- N8981S · registry record · serial 15062281
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED HE LANDED ON THE NORTH/SOUTH ORIENTED RUNWAY AT THE PRIVATE, SNOW COVERED SOD AIRSTRIP, BUT ELECTED TO TAKEOFF ON THE EAST/WEST SOD RUNWAY BECAUSE IT APPEARED TO HAVE LESS SNOW. DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, THE PILOT SAID THE LANDING GEAR ENCOUNTERED DRIFTED SNOW WHICH SLOWED THE AIRPLANE. THE PILOT CONTINUED THE TAKEOFF RUN, AND THE AIRPLANE BECAME AIRBORNE NEAR THE END OF THE 2,400' RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A FENCE SHORTLY AFTER LIFTOFF AND CRASHED.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,030 hours in all; 625 in this make and model; 53 in the last 90 days; 28 in the last 30 days; 907 as pilot in command; 104 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,407 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 6, 1994
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: 6D8 Valley City ND
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 2,400 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 19°F (-7°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CHI95LA077.