Hamburger Flugzeugbau (Hfb) HANSA HFB-320 accident near Aberdeen, South Dakota, October 5, 1984
On October 5, 1984 at about 4:37 am local time, a Hamburger Flugzeugbau (Hfb) HANSA HFB-320, registered N127MW, was destroyed in an accident near Aberdeen, South Dakota (Aberdeen Regional airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 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
- October 5, 1984 · about 4:37 am local time
- Place
- Aberdeen, South Dakota · Aberdeen Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hamburger Flugzeugbau (Hfb) HANSA HFB-320 HANSA HFB-
- Registration
- N127MW · no longer on the register · serial 1027
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HANSA JET HFB-320 ACFT CRASHED ON TAKEOFF FROM THE ABERDEEN AIRPORT AFTER THE FLT CREW SELECTED THE INCORRECT RWY FOR TAKEOFF. THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED RUNNING OFF THE END OF RWY 17, WHICH IS 3860 FT LONG, WHERE IT STRUCK A FENCE, DITCH, ROAD & ANOTHER DITCH THEN BECAME AIRBORNE, THE LANDING GEAR SEPARATED DURING THE ABOVE SEQUENCE. THE ACFT WAS THAN OBSERVED TO LEVEL OFF MOMENTARILY, THEN DESCEND IN A RT TURN UNTIL IMPACT. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE CREW HAD BEEN FLYING 12 HRS EXCEPT FOR REFUELING STOPS & CARGO LOADING. IN ADDITION, CALCULATIONS REVEALED THE ACFT WAS OVER GROSS WT BY APPROX 1 TON. THE PROPER RWY FOR TAKEOFF WAS 13 (40 DEGREE CHANCE) AND 6900 FT LONG. RWY USED WAS RESTRICTED TO ACFT LES THAN 12,500 GTO WT. N127MW WEIGHED OVER 20,000 LBS.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: gyroplane; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: balloon; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: gyroplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,200 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, September 1, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 20,280 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Ge CJ6101 (turbojet); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: ABR Aberdeen SD at 4:35 am
- Destination: YIP Yipsilante MI
- Flight plan: VFR then IFR
- Runway 17, 3,860 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 160° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:40 pm from ABR, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| 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.