Cessna 170B accident near Kyle, South Dakota, July 23, 1989
On July 23, 1989 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Cessna 170B, registered N8102A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kyle, South Dakota. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT USED POOR PREFLIGHT PLANNING & DECISION-MAKING IN SELECTING A ROAD ON WHICH TO LAND DURING GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS WHICH RESULTED IN THE FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTION CONTROL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 23, 1989 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Kyle, South Dakota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 170B · all 170Bs on the register
- Registration
- N8102A · registry record · serial 20954
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS LANDING HIS ACFT ON A ROAD WHEN A SUDDEN GUST OF WIND STRUCK THE ACFT CAUSING HIM TO LOSE DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. HE SAID THAT THE WINDS APPEARED TO BE CALM IN THE AREA BUT SOME 'DUST DEVILS' COULD BE SEEN SWIRLING AROUND. THE ACFT WENT OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOSED OVER.
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: 385 hours in all; 170 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 362 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,671 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 16, 1989; 46 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-145-2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SPF Spearfish SD at 5:00 pm
- Destination: NONE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 15 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| 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.