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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

November 10, 1993 · Cessna 175 · N7112M

Hot Springs, SD

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
November 10, 1993
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (1 fatality, 1 serious injury), 1 uninjured
Location
Hot Springs, SD
Aircraft
Cessna 175
Tail Number
N7112M
Operator
John T Blatchford
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CHI94LA034

THE FLIGHT WAS A LOCAL INSTRUMENT PROFICIENCY FLIGHT. THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND WAS WEARING VISION RESTRICTING DEVICES. A SAFETY PILOT WAS IN THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT. THE PILOT HAD JUST COMPLETED 7 INSTRUMENT APPROACHES AT RAPID CITY AND WAS RETURNING TO HOT SPRINGS. A PILOT PREPARING TO TAKEOFF FROM HOT SPRINGS HEARD THE PILOT REPORT DOWNWIND FOR RUNWAY 1, BUT NEVER SAW THE AIRPLANE. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH HILLY, UPWARD SLOPING TERRAIN 3 MI WEST OF THE AIRPORT. NO AIRCRAFT OR ENGINE MALFUNCTIONS WERE FOUND.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOTS TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO ENSURE TERRAIN CLEARANCE. FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE DARK NIGHT AND RISING TERRAIN.

Full Narrative

On November 9, 1993, at 1900 mountain standard time, a Cessna 175, N7112M, operated by the Battle Mountain Flying Club, Hot Springs, South Dakota, sustained substantial damage when it collided with terrain three miles west of the Hot Springs Municipal Airport, Hot Springs, South Dakota. The private pilot was seriously injured. The safety pilot, seated in the right front seat, received fatal injuries, and one passenger, seated in the rear of the airplane, was not injured. The local personal flight originated at Hot Springs at 1700. No flight plan was filed, and visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. The pilot checked in with Ellsworth AFB Approach Control at 1708 and requested radar service for multiple practice approaches at Rapid City Municipal Airport. The pilot flew seven practice approaches and requested flight following to Hot Springs. Radar service was terminated at 1851 near Approach Control's southern airspace boundary. The airplane collided with trees and upward sloping terrain three miles west of the Hot Springs Airport. The pilot in the left seat was flying the airplane and wearing "foggles" to simulate instrument meteorological conditions. The passenger seated in the right front seat was acting as safety pilot. The pilot stated he doesn't remember anything after terminating radar service with Approach Control. The passenger seated in the rear seat was asleep and said he didn't remember anything until the crash woke him up. A pilot on the ground at the Hot Springs Airport, who was preparing to takeoff on runway 19, reported he heard the pilot of the mishap airplane report on downwind for runway 1 at Hot Springs. He stated he considered aborting his takeoff, but continued after looking to the right and not seeing the airplane. The airplane was reported overdue by the wife of one of the occupants about 2400. Scott AFB reported receiving an emergency locator transmitter (ELT) signal in the area of the crash site about 2200. The crash site was located by local law enforcement and Civil Air Patrol personnel about 0300. The airplane and engine were examined by Federal Aviation Administration personnel from the Rapid City Flight Standards District Office. No aircraft or engine malfunction was reported. A Garmin GPS 55, global positioning satellite receiver was recovered from the wreckage and sent to the National Transportation Safety Board's Regional Office in Chicago for examination. The last position in the receiver's memory was: 43 degrees, 22.17 minutes N, 103 degrees, 27.59 minutes W. An autopsy and toxicological examination was performed on the fatally injured passenger. The autopsy was performed by D.M. Habbe, M.D., Clinical Laboratory of the Black Hills, 2805 Fifth Street, Rapid City, South Dakota, 57701. The toxicological examination was negative.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time19:00 MST
Nearest AirportHot Springs Muni (3nm W)
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 175
Tail NumberN7112M
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorJohn T Blatchford
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · GO-300-A · Reciprocating · 175
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (1 fatality, 1 serious injury), 1 uninjured
Fatal1
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total3
Crew 1Age 55 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDark Night
Wind300° @ 3 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point34 C / 19 C
Altimeter0
Observation Time03:51
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data