NTSB Reports
Aviation Safety Intelligence
Premium research interface

The modern interface for aviation safety intelligence.

Search investigations, review source evidence, monitor watched reports, and trace long-term patterns from one calm, data-first workspace.

Get the iPhone App
63k+
Reports indexed
1940-2026
Coverage
Recent
Last data refresh
Featured Report

Loading…

Loading featured report…

Loading…
Open Report

Safety trends by operating rule

Track fatal and non-fatal accident patterns across Part 91, Part 135, and Part 121 operations.

Loading trend charts…

Browse the aviation graph

Move quickly by aircraft, airport, operator, and time with indexes built for research, not wandering.

Last Data Update

By Decade

By Month

Aircraft Manufacturer

More manufacturers

Airports

More airports

Operators

More operators

About

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.

The goal is practical safety education: make it faster to find relevant investigations, compare similar events, review factual records, and understand the evidence behind probable-cause and preliminary reports.

The investigative work and source records belong to the National Transportation Safety Board and the published investigation record. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NTSB.

FAQs

NTSB Report

August 17, 1982 · Piper PA-18 · N154T

Watertown, SD

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 17, 1982
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Watertown, SD
Aircraft
Piper PA-18
Tail Number
N154T
Operator
Riggin Spray Service
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
DEN82FTK06

THE PILOT WAS SPRAYING A SUNFLOWER FIELD NEXT TO AN ALFALFA FIELD THAT WAS BEING IRRIGATED. AS HE PULLED UP FROM HIS THIRD SWATH RUN, HE BEGAN A PROCEDURE TURN-AROUND OVER THE ALFALFA FIELD. DURING THE TURN, THE PLANE ROLLED TO AN INVERTED ATTITUDE, THEN PITCHED DOWN AND CRASHED. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE TURN WAS MADE DOWNWIND FROM THE IRRIGATION SPRINKLERS. THE HUMIDITY IN THE VICINITY OF THE TURN WAS ESTIMATED TO BE ABOUT 80%, WHEREAS THE HUMIDITY OVER THE SUNFLOWER FIELD WAS ESTIMATED TO BE ABOUT 40%. THE ELEVATION OF THE CRASH SITE WAS 1860 FT AND THE TEMPERATURE AND ALTIMETER SETTING WERE ABOUT 85 DEG AND 30.12, RESPECTIVELY. AN EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED NO PREIMPACT FAILURES.

Full Narrative

THE PILOT WAS SPRAYING A SUNFLOWER FIELD NEXT TO AN ALFALFA FIELD THAT WAS BEING IRRIGATED. AS HE PULLED UP FROM HIS THIRD SWATH RUN, HE BEGAN A PROCEDURE TURN-AROUND OVER THE ALFALFA FIELD. DURING THE TURN, THE PLANE ROLLED TO AN INVERTED ATTITUDE, THEN PITCHED DOWN AND CRASHED. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE TURN WAS MADE DOWNWIND FROM THE IRRIGATION SPRINKLERS. THE HUMIDITY IN THE VICINITY OF THE TURN WAS ESTIMATED TO BE ABOUT 80%, WHEREAS THE HUMIDITY OVER THE SUNFLOWER FIELD WAS ESTIMATED TO BE ABOUT 40%. THE ELEVATION OF THE CRASH SITE WAS 1860 FT AND THE TEMPERATURE AND ALTIMETER SETTING WERE ABOUT 85 DEG AND 30.12, RESPECTIVELY. AN EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED NO PREIMPACT FAILURES.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time18:05 CDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-18
Tail NumberN154T
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorRiggin Spray Service
Operating RulePart 137
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320 · Reciprocating · 150
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 33 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind160° @ 9 kt
Visibility6 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point18 C / 0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg

External Links

Appendix: Source Data