Piper PA-22 accident near Castlewood, South Dakota, September 1, 1997
On September 1, 1997 at about 1:00 am local time, a Piper PA-22, registered N2743P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Castlewood, South Dakota. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from the trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 1, 1997 · about 1:00 am local time
- Place
- Castlewood, South Dakota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22 · all PA-22s on the register
- Registration
- N2743P · no longer on the register · serial 22-3050
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot-in-command, the purpose of the flight was to fly over one of his passenger's farm. The pilot stated that the flight was, 'At a low level.' The pilot reported that as the airplane approached the accident location something fell off the dashboard and he leaned forward and down to identify what it was. The pilot stated that, 'As I leaned down, I apparently forced the yoke forward, lowering the attitude.' The pilot reported that when he looked up, 'it was too late, the trees were right in front of me. I gave back pressure on the elevator, but again too late and struck the trees.' The pilot stated that the aircraft still was able to climb and that there were tree branches hanging on the wing. The pilot reported that he noticed that the elevator had limited deflection and decided to make a precautionary landing in a nearby field. Post accident investigation showed substantial damage to the right wing spar, elevator, and vertical stabilizer.
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: 3,100 hours in all; 650 in this make and model; 3,051 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,943 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 31, 1997; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PVT at 11:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 160° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 pm from ATY, 335 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.