Piper PA-36-300 N57885

Summary

On 17 June 2011 at about 17:00 local time, a Piper PA-36-300 registered N57885, operated by Wilbur-Ellis, was involved in an accident near Highmore, South Dakota, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

17 June 2011 at 17:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Highmore, South Dakota, United States

Coordinates

44.5722, -99.3917

Aircraft

Piper PA-36-300

Registration

N57885

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Wilbur-Ellis

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Highmore → Highmore

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN11LA399

1 person died.

The pilot did not maintain control of the airplane while maneuvering at low altitude.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot departed for the flight to spray a field located about 4 miles north of the airport. When the pilot did not return within the expected time frame, the operator sent airplanes out to look for him. The wreckage was located in an open field about 1/4 mile from the field that was being sprayed. No witnesses to the accident were identified; however, one person reported seeing the airplane spraying in the area. Impact damage indicated that the airplane struck the terrain in a steep nose-down, left-wing-low attitude, consistent with a loss of control event. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of any failures or malfunctions with either the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.