Piper J3C-65 accident near Elm Springs, South Dakota, January 5, 1984
On January 5, 1984 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Piper J3C-65, registered N98322, was substantially damaged in an accident near Elm Springs, South Dakota. It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. 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
- January 5, 1984 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Elm Springs, South Dakota
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper J3C-65 · all J3C-65s on the register
- Registration
- N98322 · no longer on the register · serial 18487
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS FLYING ALONG A RIVER BOTTOM LOOKING FOR STRAY CATTLE WHEN THE ACFT CRASHED INTO THE GROUND. HE RECEIVED A SERIOUS HEAD INJURY & COULD NOT RECALL DETAILS OF THE ACCIDENT, BUT HE BELIEVED THAT HE WAS FLYING AT ABOUT 100 FT AGL. AN EXAM OF THE CRASH SITE REVEALED THE ACFT HAD IMPACTED IN A NOSE DOWN, RIGHT WING LOW ATTITUDE WHILE AT SLOW SPEED. RESCUE PERSONNEL FOUND THE PLT IN A SEMI-CONSCIOUS CONDITION. THE DECEASED PASSENGER WAS FOUND LYING OUTSIDE THE RIGHT COCKPIT DOOR. THE PLT HAD PREVIOUSLY OBTAINED A STUDENT CERTIFICATE (MANY YEARS AG0), BUT HAD NOT GOTTEN A PRIVATE CERTIFICATE. HIS CLASS III MEDICAL CERTIFICATE HAD EXPIRED.
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
- Flight time: 1,000 hours in all; 200 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None (expired)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,751 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 26, 1983; 250 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-8FJ (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PVT Elm Springs SD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 335° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°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.