Piper PA24 N6691P

Summary

On 12 February 2016 at about 19:15 local time, a Piper PA24 registered N6691P was involved in an accident near Sturgis, South Dakota, United States. 2 people were on board and one was seriously injured, one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

12 February 2016 at 19:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Sturgis, South Dakota, United States

Nearest airport

Sturgis Muni (49B)

Coordinates

44.4242, -103.3850

Aircraft

Piper PA24

Registration

N6691P

Category

Airplane

Year built

1960

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Jamestown → Sturgis

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA16LA128

1 person was seriously injured.

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.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.