Piper PA-25 accident near Badger, South Dakota, June 17, 1986
On June 17, 1986 at about 2:30 am local time, a Piper PA-25, registered N6120Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Badger, South Dakota (Christensen Airstrip airport). It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was 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
- June 17, 1986 · about 2:30 am local time
- Place
- Badger, South Dakota · Christensen Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-25 · all PA-25s on the register
- Registration
- N6120Z · registry record · serial 25-140
- 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 ACFT NOSED OVER DURING A FORCED LANDING AFTER TAKEOFF. THE ACFT WAS LANDED STRAIGHT AHEAD AND ROLLED OUT INTO A STANDING POOL OF WATER 8-10 INCHES DEEP WHERE IT FLIPPED OVER CRUSHING THE CANOPY AND TRAPPING THE PLTS BODY. DURING POST ACC INVEST SEDIMENT WAS FOUND IN THE STRAINER BOWL AND THE CARB FUEL FLOAT CHAMBER. THE AIR FILTER WAS ALSO DIRTY AND NEEDED TO BE CHANGED. NO OTHER DISCREPANCIES WERE NOTED.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,125 hours in all; 25 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,204 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 9, 1986; 54 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-C1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Badger SD at 2:30 pm
- Destination: Badger SD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 2,640 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 090° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°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.