Piper PA-36-285 accident near Kennebec, South Dakota, August 8, 1984
On August 8, 1984 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-36-285, registered N56687, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kennebec, South Dakota (Private airport). It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. 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 8, 1984 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Kennebec, South Dakota · Private · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-36-285 · all PA-36-285s on the register
- Registration
- N56687 · no longer on the register · serial 36-7460004
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THAT SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF WHEN THE AIRCRAFT WAS 25 FEET IN THE AIR A DOWNDRAFT WAS ENCOUNTERED NEAR A SMALL HILL AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE DESCENT CAUSED BY THE DOWNDRAFT COULD NOT BE ARRESTED AND THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND. THE AIRCRAFT WAS BEING OPERATED 400 POUNDS BELOW MAXIMUM TAKEOFF WEIGHT AND DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS APPROXIMATELY 3800 FEET. WIND WAS REPORTED TO BE OUT OF THE WEST AT 5 TO 7 KNOTS, A HEAD WIND, ACCORDING TO THE PLT. THE PLT DID NOT HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF MAX GROSS WT OF THE ACC ACFT (3900#) HE SAID IT WAS 4400#,WHICH IS CORRECT FOR ANOTHER AG ACFT, WHICH THE PLT HAD USED ON OCCASION.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 18,236 hours in all; 17,236 in this make and model; 400 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 18, 1984; 176 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental TIRA-6-285 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 2,000 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.