Piper PA-36-375 and Piper PA-36-375 mid-air collision near Woonsocket, South Dakota, May 8, 1990
On May 8, 1990 at about 4:15 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Piper PA-36-375 (N3634E) and Piper PA-36-375 (N6177A), were involved in a mid-air collision near Woonsocket, South Dakota. 1 person was killed; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE PILOT OF N3634E TO FOLLOW THE BRIEFED PLAN OF OPERATION, AND FAILURE OF BOTH PILOTS TO SEE-AND-AVOID EACH OTHER (INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT).
FAILURE OF THE PILOT OF N3634E TO FOLLOW THE BRIEFED PLAN OF OPERATION, AND FAILURE OF BOTH PILOTS TO SEE-AND-AVOID EACH OTHER (INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT).
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 8, 1990 · about 4:15 pm local time
- Place
- Woonsocket, South Dakota
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Piper PA-36-375 · all PA-36-375s on the register
- Registration
- N3634E · no longer on the register · serial 36-7902042
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
- Aircraft 2
- Piper PA-36-375 · all PA-36-375s on the register
- Registration
- N6177A · registry record · serial 36-8102017
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative for the Piper PA-36-375 final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLTS OF TWO PA-36 AGRICULTURAL APPLICATION ACFT (N3634E & N6177A) WERE SPRAYING ADJACENT FIELDS. THE ACFT WERE OWNED AND OPERATED BY A FATHER AND SON TEAM. THE PLTS HAD PREBRIEFED TO SPRAY WITH EAST/WEST SWATH RUNS. HOWEVER, DURING THE FLIGHT, THE PLT OF N3634E CHANGED TO NORTH/SOUTH RUN(S). SUBSEQUENTLY, THE TWO ACFT CONVERGED AND COLLIDED AS EACH WAS PULLING UP AT THE END OF A SWATH RUN.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Piper PA-36-375 final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLTS OF TWO PA-36 AGRICULTURAL APPLICATION ACFT (N3634E & N6177A) WERE SPRAYING ADJACENT FIELDS. THE ACFT WERE OWNED AND OPERATED BY A FATHER AND SON TEAM. THE PLTS HAD PREBRIEFED TO SPRAY WITH EAST/WEST SWATH RUNS. HOWEVER, DURING THE FLIGHT, THE PLT OF N3634E CHANGED TO NORTH/SOUTH RUN(S). SUBSEQUENTLY, THE TWO ACFT CONVERGED AND COLLIDED AS EACH WAS PULLING UP AT THE END OF A SWATH RUN.
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 for the Piper PA-36-375 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 7,060 hours in all; 2,005 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 7,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,990 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 17, 1990; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,800 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Woonsocket SD at 4:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:21 pm from HON, 16 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Piper PA-36-375 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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,675 hours in all; 1,600 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 4,500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,574 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 16, 1990; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,800 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Woonsocket SD at 4:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
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.