Piper PA24 accident near Sturgis, South Dakota, February 12, 2016
On February 12, 2016 at about 7:15 pm local time, a 1960 Piper PA24, registered N6691P, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (IFR missed approach) near Sturgis, South Dakota (Sturgis Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to execute the published missed approach procedure in a timely manner, which resulted in collision with a light pole and subsequent impact with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 12, 2016 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Sturgis, South Dakota · Sturgis Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA24 250, built 1960 · all PA24s on the register
- Registration
- N6691P · no longer on the register · serial 24-1815
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he was conducting an instrument approach in instrument meteorological conditions. Upon reaching the decision altitude, the front seat passenger reported the runway was in front of the airplane. The pilot looked up from the instruments, but could not see the runway out the windscreen or the side window. Referring back to the flight instruments, the pilot noted that the airplane was level, but he was unable to determine the airplane's altitude and did not know where the airplane was in relation to the runway. The pilot then applied full engine power and began to climb the airplane; however, the airplane's right wing impacted a light pole. The airplane immediately pitched nose-down and descended into terrain. The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation, and that the accident could have been prevented if he had immediately executed a missed approach at the decision altitude.
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
What happened, in order
- Miscellaneous/other during approach (IFR missed approach)
- Course deviation during approach (IFR missed approach)
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during approach (IFR missed approach) defining event
- Loss of control in flight during approach (IFR missed approach)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during approach (IFR missed approach)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of policy/procedure › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Pole › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,266 hours in all; 871 in this make and model; 79 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 1,162 as pilot in command; 73 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 7, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
Pilot-Rated Passenger
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 13 hours in all; 13 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,977 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 15, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540 (piston); 3,977 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: JMS Jamestown ND at 5:15 pm
- Destination: 49B Sturgis SD
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 29, 5,100 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 200 ft
- Temperature: 27°F (-3°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.37 inHg
- Observation at 7:15 pm from KRCA, 21 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
6 documents, released by the NTSB on July 21, 2016. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Accident Photographs | PDF, 8 pages | View Download |
| 3 | FAA Inspector's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Pilot's Statement 1 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Pilot's Statement 2 | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Passenger's Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.