Piper PA-12 accident near Oakes, North Dakota, August 27, 1982
On August 27, 1982 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-12, registered N7715H, was destroyed in an accident near Oakes, North Dakota. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 27, 1982 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Oakes, North Dakota
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-12 · all PA-12s on the register
- Registration
- N7715H · registry record · serial 12-608
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SEVERAL WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE PURPOSE OF THE FLIGHT WAS BLACKBIRD CONTROL OF A SUNFLOWER FIELD. THERE WAS SPECULATION BY LOCAL RESIDENTS THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS BEING USED TO SPREAD POISONED CORN. THIS WAS SUBSTANTIATED WHEN CORN AND A PORTION OF AN AVITROL BAG WERE FOUND LATER AT THE CRASH SITE. DURING THE FLIGHT, THE AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED FLYING AT LOW ALTITUDE, THEN PULLED UP OVER A ROW OF TREES NORTH OF THE ACCIDENT SITE. IT THEN PROCEEDED SOUTH TOWARD THE TOWN OF OAKES, ND AND MADE A STEEP TURN IN THE VICINITY OF THE PILOT'S HOME. WITNESSES STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS JUST ABOVE THE ROOFTOPS AND SEEMED TO SETTLE AND COLLIDE WITH A HOUSE. AFTER IMPACT, THE AIRCRAFT BURST INTO FLAME. THE AIRCRAFT AND A PORTION OF THE HOUSE WERE DESTROYED BY IMPACT AND FIRE.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 342 hours in all; 70 in this make and model; 71 in the last 90 days; 190 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,579 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 35 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,625 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Oakes ND at 5:25 pm
- Destination: Oakes ND
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 4 knots
- Visibility: 26 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 140°F (60°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.