Piper PA-18-150 accident near Buffalo, South Dakota, November 10, 1985
On November 10, 1985 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-18-150, registered N6854P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Buffalo, South Dakota. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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 10, 1985 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Buffalo, South Dakota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18-150 · all PA-18-150s on the register
- Registration
- N6854P · no longer on the register · serial 18-7447
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO OFFICIALS, THE PLT WAS SEARCHING FOR HUNTERS WHEN THE ACFT HE WAS FLYING CONTACTED THE GROUND. WITNESSES STATED THAT BLOWING SNOW, LOW OVERCAST CLOUDS & VISIBILITY OF LESS THAN 1/2 MI PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACDNT. A BLOOD SAMPLE WAS TAKEN FROM THE PLT ABOUT 4 HRS & 45 MIN AFTER THE ACDNT. A CHECK OF THE BLOOD SHOWED AN ALCOHOL LEVEL OF 0.10%.
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: 6,542 hours in all; 3,500 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 30, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Buffalo SD at 4:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 7 knots
- Sky: overcast at 600 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 5°F (-15°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.
Other NTSB records under N6854P the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.