Beech 23A accident near Spearfish, South Dakota, July 2, 1995
On July 2, 1995 at about 3:37 pm local time, a Beech 23A, registered N2397Q, was destroyed in an accident near Spearfish, South Dakota (Blk Hills/Clyde Ice Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 3 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED RESULTING IN AN AERODYNAMIC STALL. FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ACCIDENT WERE REMEDIAL ACTION BY THE PILOT WAS NOT POSSIBLE DUE TO THE LOW ALTITUDE AT WHICH THE STALL TOOK PLACE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 2, 1995 · about 3:37 pm local time
- Place
- Spearfish, South Dakota · Blk Hills/Clyde Ice Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 23A · all 23As on the register
- Registration
- N2397Q · no longer on the register · serial M588
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT SAID HE HAD CLIMBED THE AIRPLANE TO ABOUT 75 TO 100 FEET AFTER TAKEOFF. HE SAID THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO STALL AND HE PITCHED THE NOSE DOWN WHEN HE NOTICED THE STALL. HE SAID THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED INTO THE GROUND SHORTLY AFTER PITCHING IT DOWN. A WITNESS SAID HE OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE AT A LOW ALTITUDE AS IT FLEW OVER A HIGHWAY. AFTER CROSSING THE HIGHWAY, THE WITNESS SAID HE OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE'S LEFT WING DROP ABRUPTLY AND THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND.
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: single-engine land
- Flight time: 450 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 1995
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-346-A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 28,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from RAP, 35 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.