Piper PA-28 accident near Alexandria, South Dakota, November 24, 1984
On November 24, 1984 at about 9:18 am local time, a Piper PA-28, registered N43530, was destroyed in an accident near Alexandria, South Dakota. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- November 24, 1984 · about 9:18 am local time
- Place
- Alexandria, South Dakota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28 · all PA-28s on the register
- Registration
- N43530 · registry record
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A PLOWED FIELD AFTER THE ENGINE FAILED. THE PLT REPORTED THAT DURING CRUISE FLT HE HEARD A FAINT KNOCK FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. HE REDUCED POWER AND CALLED FSS. ALMOST IMMEDIATELY THE ENGINE BEGAN TO VIBRATE. THE PLT REDUCED POWER FURTHER AND THE ACFT STARTED TO DESCEND FROM 6500 FT MSL. THE WINDSHIELD BECAME OIL COVERED AND THE COCKPIT SOMEWHAT FILLED WITH SMOKE. THE PLT CIRCLED A LARGE FIELD AND UPON LANDING THE NOSE GEAR AND LEFT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED. THE ACFT CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED COMPLETELY. POST ACCIDENT EXAM OF THE ENGINE SHOWED THAT #3 ROD FROZE TO THE CRANKSHAFT. THE LUBRICATING SYSTEM SEEMED TO HAVE BEEN FUNCTIONING IN A NORMAL MANNER. THE LAST 100 INSPECTION WAS ON 7/1/84 AT 4139 HOURS TOTAL ACFT TIME. NO LOGBOOK ENTRIES INDICATED ENGINE MALFUNCTIONS. THE PLT SAID THAT THE OIL TEMPERATURE GAGE INDICATED ALMOST IN THE RED AND THE OIL ALWAYS APPEARED EXTREMELY BLACK (ON PRE-FLT).
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: 220 hours in all; 220 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 220 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,229 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Sheldon IA at 8:30 am
- Destination: RAP Rapid City SD
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 200° at 5 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.