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Aviation Accident Data Summary - National Transportation Safety Board: http://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
NTSB Identification: CEN14FA22414 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Sunday, April 27, 2014 in Highmore, SD
Probable Cause Approval Date: 04/27/2015
Aircraft: PIPER PA 32R-300, registration: N8700E
Injuries: 4 Fatal.
NTSB investigators either traveled in support of this investigation or conducted a significant amount of investigative work without any travel, and used data obtained from various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
During a dark night cross-country flight, the instrument-rated pilot was approaching the intended airport for landing when the airplane collided with the blades of a wind turbine tower. The weather had started to deteriorate and precipitation echoes were observed on radar. Witnesses in the area described low clouds, windy conditions, and precipitation. In addition, weather briefing records and statements made to a witness indicate that the pilot was aware of the current and forecast weather conditions for the route of flight. Investigators were unable to determine why the airplane was operating at a low altitude; however, the pilot was likely attempting to remain clear of the clouds even though both the pilot and the airplane were capable of flying in instrument meteorological conditions. An examination of the airplane, systems, and engine revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Toxicology findings revealed a small amount of ethanol in the pilot’s blood, which was unlikely due to ingestion since no ethanol was found in liver or muscle tissue. The investigation revealed that the wind turbine farm was not marked on either sectional chart covering the accident location; however, the pilot was familiar with the area and with the wind turbine farm. Investigators were not able to determine what the pilot was using for navigation just before the accident. The light on the wind turbine tower that was struck was not operational at the time of the accident, and the outage was not documented in a notice to airmen. The wind turbine that was struck was the 5th tower in a string of towers oriented east to west, then the string continued south and southwest with an additional 13 towers. If the pilot observed the lights from the surrounding wind turbines, it is possible that he perceived a break in the light string between the wind turbines as an obstacle-free zone.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:
The pilot's decision to continue the flight into known deteriorating weather conditions at a low altitude and his subsequent failure to remain clear of an unlit wind turbine. Contributing to the accident was the inoperative obstruction light on the wind turbine, which prevented the pilot from visually identifying the wind turbine.
HISTORY OF FLIGHT
On April 27, 2014, about 2116 central daylight time (CDT), a Piper PA-32R-300 airplane, N8700E, was destroyed during an impact with the blades of a wind turbine tower 10 miles south of Highmore, South Dakota. The commercial pilot and three passengers were fatally injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Dark night instrument meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated without a flight plan. The flight originated from Hereford Municipal Airport (KHRX), Hereford, Texas, approximately 1700, and was en route to Highmore Municipal Airport (9D0), Highmore, South Dakota.
According to family members, the pilot and three passengers had been in Texas for business. The pilot's family reported that they had intended to leave earlier in the day, on the day of the accident, but elected to delay, and subsequently left later than they had planned. The family stated that most likely, the flight was going to stop at 9D0 to drop off one passenger before continuing to Gettysburg Municipal Airport (0D8), Gettysburg, South Dakota.
A fixed base operator employee at KHRX witnessed the pilot fuel the accident airplane at the self-serve fuel pump just prior to the accident flight. He reported that the fuel batch report showed 82.59 gallons of fuel had been dispensed. The pilot commented to the employee that he was going to "top it off" as he had "pushed his luck on the trip down." The pilot also discussed the weather conditions in South Dakota, noting that it was raining there. The pilot also added that the only reason they were leaving was because one of the passengers was anxious to get home.
The pilot contacted the Fort Worth Lockheed Martin Contract Flight Service Station at 1711 when the airplane was 38 miles west of Borger, Texas, on a direct flight to North Platte, Nebraska. The pilot requested and obtained an abbreviated weather briefing. During this briefing, winds aloft and weather advisories for the reported route of flight were provided. The pilot also provided a pilot report for his position.
At 1812 the pilot sent a text stating that they were "Into KS aways" (sic). At 1923 he sent a text stating that they were "into NE". At 2054 he stated that they were flying by Chamberlain, South Dakota.
Several witnesses in the area reported seeing an airplane fly over their homes the evening of the accident. The first witness, located near the shore of the Missouri River, near Fort Thompson, South Dakota, reported seeing an airplane about 200 feet above the ground, flying to the northeast, about 2045. He stated that the airplane was low and was moving quickly. The second witness, located a few miles southwest of the accident site, reported seeing an airplane flying at a very low altitude, headed north, about 2115. Neither witness reported hearing problems with the engine.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the airplane was reported missing by a concerned family member when the airplane did not arrive in Gettysburg, South Dakota, on the evening of April 27, 2014. The wreckage of the airplane was located by members of the Hyde County Fire Department and the Hyde County Sheriff's department around 0330 on the morning of April 28, 2014. The pilot was not communicating with air traffic control at the time of the accident and radar data for the accident flight was not available.
OTHER DAMAGE
Wind turbine tower #14, part of the South Dakota Wind Energy Center owned by NextEra Energy Resources, was damaged during the accident sequence. One of the three blades was fragmented into several large pieces. One large piece remained partially attached to a more inboard section of the turbine blade. The inboard piece of this same turbine blade remained attached at the hub to the nacelle. The outboard fragmented pieces of the wind turbine blade were located in a radius surrounding the base of the wind turbine tower. The other two wind turbine blades exhibited impact damage along the leading edges and faces of the blades.
PERSONNEL INFORMATION
The pilot, age 30, held a commercial pilot certificate with airplane single engine land, multiengine land, and instrument ratings. He was issued a second class airman medical certificate without limitations on January 19, 2014. The pilot was a professional agricultural pilot and had flown agricultural airplanes in the area for several seasons.
The family provided investigators the pilot's flight logbook. The logbook covered a period between April 22, 2010, and April 20, 2014. He had logged no less than 3,895.8 hours total time; 100.7 hours of which were in the make and model of the accident airplane and 95.1 hours of which were in the accident airplane. This time included 76.2 hours at night, 1.1 hours of which had been recorded within the previous 90 days. The pilot was current for flight with passengers at night. He successfully completed the requirements of a flight review on January 18, 2013. He successfully completed an instrument proficiency check in a PA-32R on February 7, 2014.
According to the FAA, the pilot was familiar with the accident area. Specifically, the pilot was familiar with the wind turbine farm and had expressed his concern about the wind turbine farm to the FAA Flight Standards District Office in Rapid City, South Dakota. The details of his concerns were not available.
AIRCRAFT INFORMATION
The accident airplane, a Piper PA-32R-300 (serial number 32R-7680159), was manufactured in 1976. It was registered with the FAA on a standard airworthiness certificate for normal operations. A Lycoming IO-540-K1G5D engine rated at 300 horsepower at 2,700 rpm powered the airplane. The engine was equipped with a 2-blade Hartzell propeller. The airplane was equipped and certified for flight in instrument meteorological conditions.
The airplane was maintained under an annual inspection program. A review of the maintenance records indicated that an annual inspection had been completed on April 17, 2013, at an airframe total time of 4,766 hours.
METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION
The closest official weather observation station was Pierre Regional Airport (KPIR), Pierre, South Dakota, located 35 miles west of the accident location. The elevation of the weather observation station was 1,744 feet mean sea level (msl). The routine aviation weather report (METAR) for KPIR, issued at 2124, reported wind from 010 degrees at 19 knots, visibility 10 miles, light rain, sky condition broken clouds at 1,000 feet, overcast at 1,600 feet, temperature 6 degrees Celsius (C), dew point temperature 5 degrees C, altimeter 29.37 inches, remarks ceiling variable between 800 and 1,200 feet.
The METAR issued at 2139 for KPIR reported wind from 070 degrees at 19 knots, visibility 4 miles, rain, mist, sky condition ceiling overcast clouds at 800 feet, temperature 6 degrees C, dew point temperature 5 degrees C, altimeter 29.37 inches, remarks ceiling variable between 600 and 1,300 feet.
Huron Regional Airport (KHON) in Huron, South Dakota, was located 53 miles to the east of the accident site at an elevation of 1,289 feet. The METAR issued at 2055 for KHON reported wind from 100 degrees at 20 knots, gusting to 27 knots, visibility 10 miles, sky condition ceiling overcast at 1,000 feet, temperature 9 degrees C, dew point temperature 7 degrees C, altimeter 29.36 inches, remarks peak wind of 29 knots from 090 degrees at 2015, rain began at 1956 and ended at 2006.
The National Weather Service (NWS) Surface Analysis Chart for 2200 CDT depicted a low-pressure center in southern Nebraska, with an occluded front extending into northeastern Kansas. A stationary front extended from northeastern Nebraska southeast through southern Iowa. Surface wind east of the accident location was generally easterly, with surface wind to the west of the accident location generally northerly. Station models across the state of South Dakota depicted overcast skies, with temperatures ranging from the high 30's Fahrenheit (F) to the mid-50's F. Rain and haze were depicted across the state.
A regional Next-Generation Radar (NEXRAD) mosaic obtained from the National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) for 2115 identified a large portion of South Dakota under light to moderate values of reflectivity, including the region surrounding the accident site. WSR-88D Level II radar data obtained at 2114 from Aberdeen, South Dakota, (KABR), depicted altitudes between 5,460 and 13,200 feet at the accident site. The KABR data identified an area of light reflectivity coincident with the accident location approximately two minutes prior to the accident time.
Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) data from the NOAA-16 satellite data were obtained from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and identified cloudy conditions at or near the accident site. Cloud-top temperatures in the region varied between -53 degrees C and 6 degrees C. The temperature of -53 degrees C corresponded to heights of approximately 35,000 feet. Due to a temperature inversion in the ABR sounding near 4,000 feet, the temperature of 6 degrees C may correspond to various cloud heights ranging from at or very near the surface to between 3,500 and 6,500 feet.
An Area Forecast that included South Dakota was issued at 2045 CDT. The portion of the Area Forecast directed toward the eastern two-thirds of South Dakota forecasted for the accident time: ceiling overcast at 3,000 feet msl with cloud tops to flight level (FL)180, widely scattered light rain showers, and wind from the east at 20 knots with gusts to 30 knots. Prior to the 2045 CDT Area Forecast, another Area Forecast that included South Dakota was issued at 1345 CDT. The portion of the Area Forecast directed toward the central and eastern portions of South Dakota forecasted for the accident time: ceiling overcast at 3,000 feet msl with clouds layered up to FL300, scattered thunderstorms with light rain, cumulonimbus cloud tops to FL400, wind from the southeast at 20 knots with gusts to 35 knots.
Airmen's Meteorological Information (AIRMET) SIERRA for IFR conditions was issued at 1959 CDT for a region that included the accident location. AIRMET TANGO for moderate turbulence for altitudes below 15,000 feet was issued at 1545 CDT for a region that included the accident location. The AIRMET also addressed strong surface winds for a region that did not include the accident location. AIRMET ZULU for moderate ice for altitudes between the freezing level and FL200 was issued at 1545 CDT for a region that included the accident location.
There were no non-convective Significant Meteorological Information (SIGMET) advisories active for the accident location at the accident time. There were two Convective SIGMETs issued for convection close to the accident location in the two hours prior to the accident time
According to the United States Naval Observatory, Astronomical Applications Department Sun and Moon Data, the sunset was recorded at 2037 and the end of civil twilight was 2109. The moon rose at 0615 on the following day.
At the time of the accident the wind turbine tower #14 recorded the wind velocity at 9.7 meters per second or 21 miles per hour and the ambient temperature was 7 degrees C.
The pilot logged on to the CSC DUAT System on April 26, 2014, at 2141:36 and requested a low altitude weather briefing quick path service. The pilot identified the route of flight as a direct flight between KHRX and 0D8, at an altitude of 8,500 feet.
AIDS TO NAVIAGATION
The FAA Twin Cities Sectional Chart 87th edition, dated 9 January, 2014, through 26 June, 2014, depicted the city of Highmore, South Dakota, and the Highmore Airport on the southern edge of the chart boundary. The city of Highmore and the airport were both within the same boundary box with a maximum elevation figure of 24 or 2,400 feet msl. The maximum elevation figure immediately south of Highmore was 27 or 2,700 feet msl. An obstacle at an elevation of 276 feet above ground level (agl) and 2,180 feet msl was depicted immediately south of the city of Highmore. A wind farm was depicted south and east of Ree Heights, South Dakota – this wind farm was at an elevation of 420 feet agl and 2,447 feet msl. The wind farm involved in this accident was not depicted on this sectional chart.
The FAA Omaha Sectional Chart 89th edition, dated 6 February, 2014, through 24 July, 2014, depicted the city of Highmore, South Dakota, and the Highmore Airport on the northern edge of the chart boundary. The city of Highmore and the airport were both within the same boundary box with a maximum elevation figure of 24 or 2,400 feet msl. The maximum elevation figure immediately south of Highmore was 27 or 2,700 feet msl. A wind farm was depicted south and east of Ree Heights, South Dakota – this wind farm was at an elevation of 420 feet agl and 2,447 feet msl and 420 feet agl and 2,500 feet msl.
A single obstruction was depicted on the chart about 7 miles south of the city of Highmore, just to the east of highway 57. The obstruction was at an elevation of 215 feet agl and 2,335 feet msl. A group of obstructions was depicted on the chart about 9 miles south of the city of Highmore, just to the west of highway 57. The obstructions were at an elevation of 316 feet agl and 2,496 feet msl. The wind farm involved in this accident was not depicted on this sectional chart as a wind farm.
According to the FAA, the 90th edition of the Omaha Sectional Chart, effective from 24 July, 2014, through 5 February, 2015, added the depiction of the accident wind farm just south of the city of Highmore. This depicted the wind farm west and southwest of highway 57 at an elevation of 2,515 feet msl. In addition, an unlit obstruction at an elevation of 415 feet agl and 2,597 feet msl was depicted just south of the wind farm boundary.
There are no instrument approach procedures into 9D0. There are two RNAV (GPS) approaches, runway 13 and runway 31, into 0D8.
FLIGHT RECORDERS
The accident airplane was equipped with an Apollo GX-50 panel-mount 8-channel GPS receiver. The unit includes a waypoint database with information about airports, VOR, NDB, en route intersections, and special use airspace. Up to 500 custom user-defined waypoints may be stored, as well. The GX-50 is a TSO-C129a class unit capable of supporting IFR non-precision approach operations. Thirty flight plans composed of a linked list of waypoints may be defined and stored. The real-time navigation display can be configured to show: latitude/longitude, bearing, distance to target, ground speed, track angle, desired track, distance, and an internal course deviation indicator (CDI). The unit stores historical position information in volatile memory; however, by design there is no method to download this information.
The unit was sent to the NTSB Vehicle Recorders Lab in Washington D.C. for download. Upon arrival at the Vehicle Recorders Laboratory, an exterior examination revealed the unit had sustained significant structural damage. An internal inspection revealed most internal components, including the battery, were dislodged. Since the internal battery was dislodged and the unit relied upon volatile memory to record information, no further recovery efforts were attempted.
WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION
The accident scene was located in level, vegetated terrain, in the middle of a wind turbine farm, about 10 miles south of Highmore, South Dakota. The terrain was vegetated with short and medium grass. The wreckage of the airplane was fragmented and scattered in a radius to the north, through to the west, and then through the south, surrounding the base of wind turbine tower #14. The fragmented pieces of the fuselage, empennage, engine and propeller assembly, and both wings were accounted for in the field of debris.
MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION
The autopsy was performed by the Sanford Health Pathology Clinic on April 29, 2014, as authorized by the Hyde County Coroner's office. The autopsy concluded that the cause of death was multiple blunt force injuries and the report listed the specific injuries.
The FAA's Civil Aerospace Medical Institute (CAMI), Bioaeronautical Sciences Research Laboratory, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, performed toxicological tests on specimens that were collected during the autopsy (CAMI Reference #201400071001). Results were negative for all carbon monoxide and drugs. Testing of the blood detected 11 mg/dL ethanol; however, none was detected in the muscle or liver. Tests for cyanide were not conducted.
TESTS AND RESEARCH
Wreckage Examination
The wreckage was recovered and relocated to a hangar in Greeley, Colorado, for further examination. The wreckage was examined by investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board, Piper Aircraft, and Lycoming Engines.
The left wing separated from the fuselage and was fragmented. The fuel tanks were impact damaged and the left main landing gear separated from the wing assembly. The aileron and the flap separated from the wing assembly and were impact damaged.
The right wing separated from the fuselage and was fragmented. The fuel tanks were impact damaged. The right main landing gear was extended and remained attached to the right wing spar. The aileron and the flap separated from the wing assembly and were impact damaged.
The fuel selector valve was impact damaged. The position of the selector handle was at the left main fuel tank. Disassembly of the valve found the selector in an intermediate position between off and the left main tank. The fuel screen was clear of debris.
The instrument panel was fragmented and many of the instruments, radios, and gauges were destroyed. The ADI case and the directional gyro exhibited signatures of rotational scoring. The tachometer exhibited a reading of 2,400 to 2,500 rpm. The altimeter was broken and the needles separated. The Kollsman window was set at 29.27 inches. The airspeed indicator exhibited a reading of 235 miles per hour.
The pitot static system was impact damage and fragmented. The pitot tube and static port were clear and free of debris or mechanical blockage. Due to the damage, the system could not be functionally tested.
The empennage separated from the fuselage and was impact damaged. The aft portion of the vertical stabilizer was impact damaged and remained partially attached to the rudder at the hinge points. The stabilator was impact damaged and fragmented.
Flight control continuity to the ailerons, stabilator, and rudder could not be confirmed. The flight control cables were fractured in overload in multiple locations. The position of the flaps and landing gear could not be determined due to impact damage.
The engine was impact damaged impeding examination and testing for functionality. The spark plugs exhibited worn out normal signatures when compared to the Champion Aviation Check-A-Plug chart. The fuel injectors for the 1, 3, and 5 cylinders were clear of debris. The fuel injectors for the 2, 4, and 6 cylinders were impact damaged. The oil pick-up screen was clear of debris. The fuel servo and fuel pump were impact damaged and could not be functionally tested. The fuel flow divider was clear of debris. The vacuum pump case was bent and exhibited internal scoring consistent with operation at the time of the accident.
The propeller separated from the engine at the propeller flange. One blade exhibited S-bending, a curled tip, chord-wise scratches, and nicks and gouges along the leading edge of the propeller blade. The second blade exhibited chord-wise scratches, nicks and gouges along the leading edge of the propeller blade, and grey angular pain transfer near the tip of the propeller blade.
Wind Turbine Tower #14 Obstruction Light Power Supply, Flash Head, and Photocell Examination
The obstruction light, which included the power supply, flash head, and photocell (44812A), was removed from wind turbine tower #14 by an employee of ESI at the request of the wind turbine company. All of the components were shipped to Hughey & Phillips for further examination.
During the examination the following observations were made:
• The flash head gasket was broken into 5 pieces. The day lens was crazed and a screw was loose in flash head.
• The photocell which was in the container is an aftermarket unit and not as supplied by Hughey & Phillips.
• An aftermarket transformer was added to the power supply above the TB1 terminal block. This was not wired into the power supply and two wires hung from the transformer.
The power supply was placed on test jig and the power supply and flash head were connected via a 7-wire power cable, 7 feet in length, provided by Hughey & Phillips. When power was applied to the unit the flash head did not work - the red lamp attempted to flash and the white lamp did not flash.
• The lower flash tube was black consistent with age/use
• The power supply - capacitor C3 – was bulged at the top consistent with a bad capacitor
The capacitor was replaced and the red lamp functioned as designed. The white lamp did not function. The white flash tube was replaced with a new flash tube.
• When it was in day mode the white light activated
• When in night mode the red light activated
• When in auto mode, light was applied to the photocell sensor and after 30 seconds it switched from night to day mode. When light was removed and the sensor was covered to remove light, it switched back to night mode after 30 seconds.
The photocell was placed in a test chamber. When all light was removed, one light bulb illuminated. When 5 candelas was applied there was no change. The candelas were increased incrementally to 30 with no change. When the candelas were increased to 50, the test chamber switched to night mode within a minute or more.
The flash rate of the unit was tested.
• The red lamp tested at a rate of 25 flashed per minute – This is within the FAA specifications for the L-864 fixture, 20 to 40 flashes per minute.
• The white lamp tested at a rate of 40 flashes per minute- This is within the FAA specifications for the L-865 fixture, 40 flashes per minute.
The alarm function tested as designed.
The entire system operated normally with basic replacement of the flashtube and capacitor. The system was not operational in its as removed state.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Wind Turbine
The wind turbine farm south of Highmore, South Dakota, was constructed in 2003. There are 27 towers in the entire farm oriented from east to west across highway 57. It was reported to the NTSB, on scene, that each turbine tower is about 213 feet tall (from the ground to the center of the hub) and the blade length is 100 feet long. Each tower is equipped with three blades and FAA approved lighting. The blades are constructed from carbon fiber.
On June 2, 2003, the FAA issued a Determination of No Hazard to Air Navigation, regarding the installment of wind turbine tower #14 near Highmore, South Dakota. The document identified that the wind turbines would be 330 feet agl and 2,515 feet msl. A condition to the determination included that the structure be marked and/or lighted in accordance with FAA Advisory Circular 70/7460-1K Change 1.
The wind turbine tower #14 was located to the west of highway 57, and was the 5th wind turbine tower in a string of wind turbine towers, oriented from east to west. Wind turbine tower #14 was 0.3 miles to the west of the 4th wind turbine tower and 0.5 miles to the west of the 3rd wind turbine tower. The string of wind turbine towers changed direction after wind turbine tower #14 and continued to the south and south west for about 2 additional miles with 13 additional wind turbine towers in the string. The next closest wind turbine tower to #14 was 0.5 miles south.
The wind turbine tower #14 recorded an alert in the system when the airplane and the turbine blade collided and the turbine went offline. The impact was recorded at 2116:33. The blades were pitched at -0.5 degrees and the nacelle was at 112 degrees yaw angle (not a compass heading, rather nacelle rotation). There were no employees at the wind farm maintenance facility when the accident occurred. The NextEra control center in Juno Beach, Florida, received an immediate alert when the collision occurred. The company response would have been to send an employee to the wind turbine the next morning to determine why the turbine had gone offline.
Maintenance records for wind turbine tower #14, for 5 years prior to the accident, were submitted to the NTSB investigator in charge for review. These records included major and minor inspection sheets for 2010 and 2011 in addition to work management records for general maintenance, repairs, and fault troubleshooting that occurred between June 2010, and October of 2014 (after the accident). The major and minor inspection sheets for 2010 and 2011 indicated that the FAA lighting was inspected and found to be "normal" or "OK." No other maintenance records were provided which illustrated maintenance that was conducted or performed on the FAA lighting system between 2010 and the accident.
It was reported to the NTSB IIC that the light on tower #14 was not functioning at the time of the accident and had been inoperative for an undefined period. The actual witness to the inoperative light did not return telephone calls in attempt to confirm or verify this observation.
FAA Lighting Requirements
The US Department of Transportation – FAA issued Advisory Circular AC 70/7460-1K Obstruction Marking and Lighting on February 1, 2007.
Section 23. Light Failure Notification states in part that "…conspicuity is achieved only when all recommended lights are working. Partial equipment outages decrease the margin of safety. Any outage should be corrected as soon as possible. Failure of a steady burning side or intermediate light should be corrected as soon as possible, but notification is not required. B. Any failure or malfunction that lasts more than thirty (3) minutes and affects a top light or flashing obstruction light, regardless of its position, should be reported immediately to the appropriate flight service station (FSS) so a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) can be issued."
Section 44. Inspection, Repair, and Maintenance states in part that "Lamps should be replaced after being operated for not more than 75 percent of their rated life or immediately upon failure. Flashtubes in alight unit should be replaced immediately upon failure, when the peak effective intensity falls below specification limits or when the fixture begins skipping flashes, or at the manufacturer's recommended intervals. Due to the effects of harsh environments, beacon lenses should be visually inspected for ultraviolet damage, cracks, crazing, dirt, build up, etc., to insure that the certified light output has not deteriorated."
Section 47. Monitoring Obstruction Light stated in part that "Obstruction lighting systems should be closely monitored by visual or automatic means. It is extremely important to visually inspect obstruction lighting in all operating intensities at least once every 24 hours on systems without automatic monitoring."
Chapter 13, Sections 130 through 134, addressed Marking and Lighting Wind Turbine Farms. Wind turbine farms are defined as "a wind turbine development that contains more than three (3) turbines of heights over 200 feet above ground level." In addition, a linear configuration in a wind farm is "a line-like arrangement… The line may be ragged in shape or be periodically broke, and may vary in size from just a few turbines up to 20 miles long."
Section 131. General Standards states in part that "Not all wind turbine units within an installation or farm need to be lighted." "Definition of the periphery of the installation is essential; however, lighting of interior wind turbines is of lesser importance…" "Obstruction lights within a group of wind turbines should have unlighted separations or gaps of no more than ½ statute mile if the integrity of the group appearance is to be maintained."
Section 134. Lighting Standards states in part that "Obstruction lights should have unlighted separations or gaps of no more than ½ mile. Lights should flash simultaneously. Should the synchronization of the lighting system fail, a lighting outage report should be made in accordance with paragraph 23 of this advisory circular." Section c. Linear Turbine Configuration states in part "Place a light on each turbine positioned at each end of the line or string of turbines. Lights should be no more than ½ statute mile, or 2,640 feet from the last lit turbine."
http://registry.faa.gov/N8700E
NTSB Identification: CEN14FA224
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Sunday, April 27, 2014 in Highmore, SD
Aircraft: PIPER PA 32R-300, registration: N8700E
Injuries: 4 Fatal.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators either traveled in support of this investigation or conducted a significant amount of investigative work without any travel, and used data obtained from various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
On April 27, 2014, at 2116 central daylight time, a Piper PA-32R-300 airplane, N8700E, was destroyed when it impacted the blade of a wind turbine 11 miles south of Highmore, South Dakota. The commercial pilot and three passengers were fatally injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated without a flight plan. The flight originated from Hereford Municipal Airport (KHRX), Hereford, Texas, approximately 1700.
According to officials with the Federal Aviation Administration, the airplane was reported missing by a concerned family member when the airplane did not arrive in Gettysburg, South Dakota, on the evening of April 27, 2014. The wreckage of the airplane was located by members of the Hyde County Fire Department and the Hyde County Sheriff's department around 0330 on the morning of April 28, 2014.
The wreckage of the airplane was scattered in a radius surrounding the base of a wind turbine. The airplane was fragmented. One turbine blade exhibited impact damage and was broken into several large pieces, several of which remained attached to the turbine nacelle. The remaining two turbine blades exhibited impact damage.
The closest official weather observation station was Pierre Regional Airport (KPIR), Pierre, South Dakota, located 37 miles west of the accident location. The routine aviation weather report (METAR) for KPIR, issued at 2124, reported wind 010 degrees at 19 knots, visibility 10 miles, sky condition broken clouds at 1,000 feet, overcast at 1,600 feet, temperature 06 degrees Celsius (C), dew point temperature 05 degrees C, altimeter 29.37 inches, remarks, ceiling variable between 800 and 1,200 feet.
Donald "DJ" Jerome Fischer
Donald "DJ" Jerome Fischer
(May 1, 1983 - April 27, 2014)
Donald “DJ” Fischer, 30, of Gettysburg, passed away, Sunday, April 27, 2014 in a tragic plane crash south of Highmore, SD.
Mass of Christian Burial was held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, May 3, 2014 at the Gettysburg School Gym with Father Jerry Kopel officiating. Burial followed in the Gettysburg Cemetery. A prayer service was held at 7:00 p.m., Friday, May 2, 2014 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Gettysburg.
Donald Jerome Fischer “DJ”, was born May 1, 1983 in Gettysburg, SD to Donald Dale and Laurie (Pollock) Fischer.
DJ was born, raised, and resided in Gettysburg, a community he loved and generously supported. He graduated from Gettysburg High School in 2001 where he enjoyed competing in football, basketball, and track for the Battlers. He was a great friend to all and was named Homecoming King and Male Athlete of the Year his senior year. His true passion was on the football field and he continued his football career with a scholarship to South Dakota State University, where he was an outstanding Jackrabbit for 5 years. He graduated from SDSU with an Economics degree in 2006. It was at SDSU where he earned his private pilot’s license, and discovered his new passion, FLYING.
He started his flying career by briefly moving to Myrtle Beach, SC to build flight hours by towing banners along the beach. He said the job was horribly boring, but was worth it to become a Commercial Ag Pilot, a career he had been looking forward to since he was a little boy. He moved back to Gettysburg in 2007 to work for Air Kraft Spraying out of Timber Lake, SD. He loved his job dearly and looked forward to every day he was able to do what he loved (unless it was a day full of little fields). He was most comfortable when he was in an airplane and enjoyed giving rides to anyone brave enough to ride with him. Local farmers were always searching the skies, as they knew a “buzz” from DJ was always a possibility.
DJ could never sit still. In addition to flying, he owned and operated Dakota Applicators, a spray foam insulation company that he built into a thriving business. He also was an avid outdoorsman and dedicated his fall each year to guiding at the Paul Nelson Farm pheasant-hunting lodge. He raised and trained two labs, Blondie and Zoey, and loved to watch them flush birds and make impossible retrieves from the field.
DJ was highly regarded in the community of Gettysburg where he was very active. He was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus. He served as the city airport manager and was an active member of the local Friends of the NRA chapter. He also served as an EMT and volunteer firefighter. Everyone praised DJ for his calm and confident demeanor during emergency situations.
DJ, aka “the gentle giant”, was a very selfless man and always put others ahead of himself. He was quite the jokester and the king of “winging it”. Details never really meant much to DJ as long as the end result was close to what he was looking for. He was a light-hearted, sincere man who never let the small things get to him. He truly took life in stride adhering to his motto, “it is what it is”.
DJ met the love of his life, Megan Grove in June of 2012. Sparks flew from the start and they spent as much time as possible together over the next several months. He knew she was “the one” and they got engaged during a well planned “emergency” landing in September of 2013. They were then married in Mexico on March 12, 2014 with family and friends by their side. A good time was definitely had by all.
The couple made the most of their short time together by having fun in whatever they did. They enjoyed traveling together in their Piper Lance airplane to visit family and friends. They also attended every possible Jackrabbit football game and hosted the Mini Winnie Tailgate party at home games.
DJ is survived by his wife Megan of Gettysburg; mother, Laurie (Steve) Robbennolt of Gettysburg; maternal grandparents: Mike & Mary Pollock of Sturgis; paternal grandmother, Dorothy Fischer of Gettysburg; grandmother, Donna Robbennolt of Gettysburg; sisters: Amber (Andy) Mikkelsen, Katelyn and Kelcey Robbennnolt all of Gettysburg; brothers: Tyler (Kelsey) Fischer, Michael Fischer, and Blake Robbennolt all of Gettysburg; nieces: Neva, Olivia, and Isabelle Mikkelsen; nephews: Camdon and Nash Fischer; aunts, uncles, cousins and his two dogs, Blondie and Zoey. He is also survived by his paternal father-in-law, Mark (Sharilyn) Grove of Cedar Falls, IA; maternal mother-in-law, Jackie (Chet) Edinger of Mitchell; brother-in-law, Tanner Grove and sisters-in-law, Molly & Taylor Grove all of Mitchell.
DJ was preceded in death by his father, Donald Fischer; uncles: Jerry, Duane, and Donny Pollock; grandfather, Wilfred Fischer and Gene Robbennolt.
Our deepest and sincerest gratitude is extended to all of our family and friends, near and far, for your support and prayers in our time of grieving.
A memorial has been established at Great Western Bank, 111 N. East St, Gettysburg, SD 57442.
Luce Funeral Home of Gettysburg has been entrusted with DJ’s arrangements.
http://www.familyfuneralhome.net
Brent Beitelspacher
Brent Beitelspacher, 37, Bowdle, died Sunday, April 27, 2014 in an airplane accident south of Highmore, SD. Funeral services will be 2:00 PM, Thursday, May 1, 2014 at the Bowdle School Gymnasium with Pastor Patrick Hahn leading the service. Burial follows at the St. Paul Lutheran Church Cemetery, Bowdle. Organist will be Rhonda Strouckel and the congregation will sing "Christ is Risen! Alleluia!", "On Eagle's Wings", and "Precious Lord, Take My hand". Ushers will be Lyle Kiesz and David Schaffer.
Visitation will be from 5:00-9:00 PM Wednesday at Lien Funeral Home, Bowdle, with family present from 5:00-7:00 PM.
Brent Jay Beitelspacher, son of Carla (Kilber) and Leroy Beitelspacher, was born at Bowdle on April 28, 1976. He was brought up on the Beitelspacher farm 15 miles SW of Bowdle in Walworth County. He attended school in Bowdle and graduated with the BHS Class of 1994. He went on to South Dakota State University where he was on the Collegiate Livestock Judging Team. In December 1998, Brent earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Animal Science. In 1999, Brent, along with Mark Beitelspacher, purchased Potter County Livestock from Kenneth Koops, changed the name to Gettysburg Livestock, and re-opened it on May 1, 1999. Brent married Nicole Michael at Rapid City on August 11, 2001 and the couple settled in Gettysburg, SD. Brent, along with his brother Brandon, and Justin Cronin also purchased J&B’s C Store in Gettysburg. In 2009, he sold both businesses and he and his family relocated to Bowdle. After farming for two years, Brent was hired as an animal nutrition consultant by Northern Plains Cooperative. He continued to help on the family farm with all farming and livestock aspects. He also purchased livestock for both club calf and purebred breeders throughout the United States. Brent belonged to St. Paul Lutheran Church, Bowdle, and was vice president of the Bowdle Golf Club. He was instrumental in resurrecting the Bowdle Trap Club and was just beginning instruction of shooting and archery for 4-H. He loved hunting, which led him to be the Bowdle Rooster Round Up co-chair for several years. He was also a tournament fisherman, golfer, and scuba diver.
Brent is survived by his grandmother, Lenora Kilber of Bowdle; His parents, Leroy and Carla of Bowdle; Nicole, his wife of 12 years; his son, Cade, and daughter, Alana; and two brothers, Colin (Amanda) Beitelspacher of Bowdle and Brandon (Andrea) Beitelspacher of Ipswich, SD.
He was preceded in death by grandparents, Erhard and Minnie Beitelspacher and Lester Kilber.
Honorary bearers will be Brent’s cousins and all of his friends.
Casketbearers will be Cory Jueneman of Mobridge, SD, Jerry Beadle, Stuart Thomsen, Craig Hoerner, Jeremy Hoffman, Mark Beitelspacher, and Jeb Schock all of Bowdle, and Joel Heilman of Roscoe, SD.
Lien Funeral Home, Bowdle, Is in charge of arrangements.
http://www.millerlienfh.com
Logan Rau
Today we will remember the life of Logan Rau. As the fifth generation Rau working the land, Logan was a farmer and rancher through and through. He was a great cattleman that we will truly miss. Logan will be remembered best by his unforgettable smile and his ability to ‘tell it how it was’ one minute and make you laugh the next.
DJ Fischer
The plane crash that took the lives of three cattlemen and one pilot from central South Dakota was the first of its kind, according to industry experts. While the investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board is ongoing, South Dakota Wind Energy Association executive director Paul Bachman said the accident was the first plane to ever collide with a wind turbine in the state.
Lindsay North, spokesperson for the American Wind Energy Association, said her organization has never heard of a plane colliding with a turbine. The NTSB finished collecting any remaining debris from the crash on Wednesday. The material will be examined by investigators in Greeley, Colo.
The single engine Piper was manufactured in 1976 and owned by Donald “D.J.” Fischer, 30, of Gettysburg. Fischer used the plane while working for Air Kraft Spraying Inc.
Fischer, along with Brent Beitelspacher, 37, of Bowdle, Logan Rau, 25, of Java, and Nick Reimann, 33, of Ree Heights, died after the plane crashed into a 300-foot wind turbine.
The crash occurred in the South Dakota Wind Energy Center, south of Highmore. The plane was declared missing late Sunday evening. The energy center contains 27 wind turbines, which are owned by Florida-based NextEra Energy Inc.
The flight originated in Hereford, Texas, after the four men attended a cattle show on Saturday.
According to Hereford city manager Rick Hanna, the men used a self-service fueling station before leaving around 7 p.m. on Sunday. Hanna said there was a terrible dust storm in Hereford at the time. Fischer did not file a flight plan, Hanna said.
As of Thursday afternoon, the NTSB did not have any new updates on the nature of the crash or why the plane was flying so low.
http://www.capjournal.com
Logan Rau
Brent Beitelspacher Memorial
Shared from Michelle Weber Custom Painting’s Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Michelle-Weber-Custom-Painting/157513847665764
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Michelle-Weber-Custom-Painting/157513847665764
The fundraising site has been set up in memory of Nick and in honor of his wife and children. 100% of the money raised will go towards the needs of Kyrstin, Croix, and Cannon. Nick was a loving husband, father, son, and friend to many.
Nick Reimann
Donald "DJ" Fischer
The National Transportation Safety Board will begin today to remove the wreckage from the crash of a small aircraft south of Highmore.
The single-engine Piper PA-32 was reported missing Sunday evening and was found early Monday 10 miles south of the central South Dakota town.
The pilot and airplane owner, Donald "DJ" Fischer, and the three passengers, Nick Reimann, Logan Rau, Brent Beitelspacher, were killed in the crash.
Jennifer Rodi, a senior air safety investigator with the NTSB, said what is known at this point is that around 9:16 p.m. Sunday the plane struck one of the 27 wind turbines on the South Dakota Wind Energy Center.
"But why the plane hit the turbine will obviously be the focus of the investigation moving forward," she said.
The NTSB is leading the investigation, not the Federal Aviation Administration, because there were fatalities.
Rodi said the intent is to recover the wreckage over the next couple days, if the damaged wind turbine blade does not present a danger to crews on the ground. The objective on Monday was recovering the bodies, she said.
The FAA was on scene yesterday, and a NTSB recovery team from Greeley, Colo., will arrive soon, she said.
============
A college friend of one of the victims in Sunday night's airplane crash recalls Nick Reimann as a selfless man.
Reimann was one of four South Dakotans on a Piper aircraft that crashed about 10 miles south of Highmore late Sunday night. All four on board died. Those on the plane were Reimann, of Ree Heights; Brent Beitelspacher, 37, of Bowdle; Logan Rau, 25, of Java; and the pilot and plane's owner, Donald "D.J." Fischer, 30, of Gettysburg.
Savanah Allen, of Palmer, Texas, has fond memories of Reimann. The two met while attending Oklahoma State University. Allen now operates Ranchology, a design firm that promotes the Western lifestyle.
"He was so selfless," Allen said of Reimann. "He would help anyone that needed help. He loved kids; he loved cattle. He was amazing at what he did."
Allen said Reimann was born and raised in Ree Heights, which is about 13 miles east of Highmore.
"Nick always knew he was going back home," said Allen, explaining she heard of the accident at 7:15 a.m. Monday.
She said it's "gut wrenching" just thinking about how close the group was to being home.
"I wish they would have waited until morning," Allen said.
A preliminary FAA report filed Monday reports that the Piper aircraft struck a wind tower and crashed.
Local law enforcement officers have referred all inquiries about the accident to the Hyde County State's Attorney's office.
According to an Associated Press report, The National Safety Transportation Board has indicated an investigation will be taking place to determine why the aircraft was flying low enough to strike the wind turbines.
Local residents say the 27 wind turbines south of town have been in place for about eight years. Highmore resident Garry Van Zee said the area near the turbines is notoriously foggy.
"It's always twice as foggy as anywhere else," he said. "I would say they probably didn't know what they were running into."
The single-engine Piper crashed in foggy weather Sunday evening 10 miles south of the central South Dakota city of Highmore, killing the pilot and three cattlemen returning from a sale of live cattle and embryos.
Possible factors include trouble with the pilot or plane and weather, said Jennifer Rodi, an NTSB investigator.
"Was the pilot having problems? Was it the weather? Was the airplane having problems?" Rodi said. "We haven't ruled anything out at this point."
It's not known if the pilot filed a flight plan, she added. He was not communicating with air-traffic controllers at the time of the crash.
Mike Mimms, a veterinarian who runs the annual sale in Hereford, said Reimann had been down for the show multiple times and is known across the industry as a master in livestock genetics.
"He was honestly the number one guy in this business and one that people trusted," he said of Reimann. "He kind of a was a trendsetter that people wanted to know what he was doing and they tended to follow suit."
The wreckage was found Monday at the South Dakota Wind Energy Center, a site south of Highmore with 27 turbines that are about 213 feet tall, plus the length of the blade.
The National Weather Service said fog and low clouds combined for reduced visibility in the Highmore area on Sunday night, and winds were out of the east at about 15 to 25 mph.
Rodi said the ultimate destination of the flight was Gettysburg, where the pilot lived, but he had picked up a passenger in Highmore on the way to Texas.
Highmore is less than 800 miles from Hereford, which falls within the maximum range of a Piper. However, factors such as how much fuel was in the plane when it left and what kind of head winds there were contribute to range, so that will also be part of the investigation, she said.
Rodi said that to her knowledge the plane did not stop to refuel, though that will be part of the investigation.
Source: http://www.aberdeennews.com
A pilot and three cattlemen died early Monday morning near Highmore when their plane struck a wind turbine.
Tony Molinaro, a spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration, said the single-engine Piper PA-32 was reported missing on Sunday and was later found 10 miles south of the central South Dakota town. The plane was traveling from Hereford, Texas, to Gettysburg, according to the FAA.
An FAA team was sent to the crash site Monday. However, since there were fatalities, the investigation is under the jurisdiction of the National Transportation Safety Board. The NTSB did not return calls seeking comment by Monday evening.
A preliminary accident and incident report on the FAA’s website Monday night said the aircraft struck a wind tower and lists the plane’s condition as “destroyed.” The report also said the plane was the subject of an alert notice, which was sent out at 2:40 a.m. on Monday.
The four victims have been identified as Nick Reimann of Ree Heights, Logan Rau of Java, Brent Beitelspacher of Bowdle and Donald “DJ” Fischer of Gettysburg.
According to FAA records the plane was registered to Fischer.
A graduate of South Dakota State University, Fischer played football for the school in the mid-2000s under current head coach John Stiegelmeier.
“DJ was a picture of what you want out of a student athlete,” Stiegelmeier said. “He was one of those guys who when you asked him to do something there was no hesitation.”
Fischer had an unbelievable work ethic, he said, and stayed connected to the football program even after graduating.
The 30-year-old, who, according to the South Dakota Aviation Association, was a pilot for Air Kraft Spraying Inc., died in the vehicle he made a living with, Stiegelmeier said.
Fischer was one of seven siblings. According to his brother, Michael, he had three nieces and two nephews and was a loving family man. Fischer married his wife, Megan, six weeks ago.
As a volunteer firefighter and EMT, Fischer was always there to help other people, Michael said.
“He was a community man,” Michael said.
The wreckage was found at the South Dakota Wind Energy Center, a group of wind turbines, all approximately 300-foot-tall, placed on several parcels of private property. The crash site was in a pasture west of South Dakota State Highway 47 and north of 207th Street.
Steve Stengel, a spokesman for Florida-based NextEra Engery Inc, whose subsidiary operates the turbines, said the company was notified early Monday morning about the missing plane. One of the wind turbine technicians on the site is a volunteer fireman, and he was alerted to the situation at 3 a.m., Stengel said.
Because of the weather – heavy fog and moderate rain for most of the day – no one from NextEra had been out to inspect the turbines, Stengel said. He could not confirm what damage had been done to the turbines.
“We are following the lead of the authorities who are leading the investigation,” he said.
The Hyde County Sheriff’s Office had all access to the area blocked off Monday and referred all questions to the Hyde County State’s Attorney. The State’s Attorney’s office referred questions to the FAA.
The identities of Fischer and the other victims were released by the families and the funeral homes making the burial arrangements.
Rau’s sister, TiAnn Poloncic, said her 25-year-old brother could sell a ketchup Popsicle to someone wearing white gloves.
“He had the gift of gab and could make anyone laugh,” she added.
Rau loved his family, hunting, ice fishing, the Kansas City Chiefs and treated his three dogs like children, Poloncic said.
Rau married his wife, Natalie, a school teacher in Bowdle, on July 27, 2013. He attended Lake Area Technical Institute in Watertown and was halfway done with a paramedic program before making the choice to head back to the family farm and run the operation with his father Todd, Poloncic said.
“He was living the American dream,” she said. “He was a tough farmer but he had a soft heart. He loved what he did.”
Beitelspacher, who turned 38 on Monday, was remembered by friends and loved ones for his passion.
“He was very energetic,” said his mother Carla. “He was ready to capture the world.”
He was a very loving husband and father and a hard worker who almost always had a smile on his face, she said.
Carla Beitelspacher said her son loved hunting, fishing and being outdoors. Beitelspacher had a sale barn in Gettysburg for 10 years before he began working for Northern Plains, a diversified farmer-owned county operation of Cenex Harvest States.
Cory Jueneman was one of the people that traveled around the country, hunted and fished with Beitelspacher.
“We fished a lot of tournaments over the years,” he said, “and hunted everything we could.”
The men had become so close they spoke every day while they went to work. “I talked to him every day at 6:50 in the morning,” Jueneman said, adding that counted the weekends also. He and Beitelspacher even vacationed together, taking their wives with them. This year, the group went to Costa Rica, Jueneman said.
“We were pretty big buddies,” he said.
Reimann, 33, operated Reimann Ranch along with his wife Kyrstin according to the company’s website.
The four men traveled to Hereford to attend an annual cattle sale hosted by Mike Mimms, a veterinarian, on Saturday.
“Nick Reimann had some of the best cows in the country,” said Mimms. “He was an influential breeder in the industry.”
Mimms considered Reimann a long-time friend, who was well respected among cattlemen.
Although he had been purchasing cattle from Beitelspacher for more than a decade, Mimms hadn’t met his supplier until last weekend. Mimms met Rau the same day.
Fog and low clouds combined for reduced visibility in the Highmore area on Sunday night, and winds were out of the east at about 15 to 25 mph, said Renee Wise, meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in Aberdeen. There were also scattered showers across region Sunday night, and some might have been heavy at times, she said.
The cattlemen, along with Fischer, tried to wait for extreme winds to subside before making the flight back to South Dakota, Mimms said. They even considered heading back with another cattleman who was driving back to South Dakota early Sunday morning, he said, but the men didn’t want to trouble him.
“The people that have lost family members need to know that people in Texas realize that the parents and the families of those guys are well respected here,” Mimms said. “The guys came down here to support us and pay respects to customers they had.That’s a thing that weighs on my mind – if it hadn’t been for this sale, they wouldn’t have been here.”
Story and comments/reaction: http://www.capjournal.com
Several of the wind turbines of the South Dakota Wind Energy Center
south of Highmore shrouded by fog and rain on Monday. A plane crashed
into one of the 27 turbines early Monday morning, killing the pilot and
three passengers.
A Hyde County truck parked in front the pasture south of Highmore where a
plane struck a wind turbine early Monday morning. The Hyde County
Sheriff’s Office restricted access to crash site while law enforcement
and the FAA investigated.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — A federal investigator at the site of a fatal plane crash in South Dakota plans to focus on why the airplane was flying so low when it apparently hit the blade of a wind turbine.
The single-engine Piper crashed in foggy weather Sunday evening 10 miles south of the central South Dakota city of Highmore, killing the pilot and three cattlemen returning from a sale of live cattle and embryos.
Possible factors include trouble with the pilot or plane and weather, said Jennifer Rodi, a National Transportation Safety Board investigator.
"Was the pilot having problems? Was it the weather? Was the airplane having problems?" Rodi said. "We haven't ruled anything out at this point."
It's not known if the pilot filed a flight plan, she added. He was not communicating with air-traffic controllers at the time of the crash.
The pilot, Donald J. "D.J." Fischer, 30, of Gettysburg, owned the plane. Also killed were cattlemen Brent Beitelspacher, 37, of Bowdle, and Logan Rau, 25, of Java, and Nick Reimann, 33, of Ree Heights.
Mike Mimms, a veterinarian who runs the annual sale in Hereford, said Reimann had been down for the show multiple times and is known across the industry as a master in livestock genetics.
"He was honestly the number one guy in this business and one that people trusted," he said of Reimann. "He kind of a was a trendsetter that people wanted to know what he was doing and they tended to follow suit."
Mimms said much of Reimann's herd originated from the Beitelspacher family's herd.
Beitelspacher's mother, Carla Beitelspacher, told the Pierre Capital Journal that her son loved hunting, tournament fishing and being outdoors. He was a loving husband and father who almost always had a smile on his face, she said.
"He was very energetic," Carla Beitelspacher said. "He was ready to capture the world."
Rau, who had two pregnant cows consigned to the sale, loved his family, hunting, ice fishing, the Kansas City Chiefs and treated his three dogs like children, said his sister, TiAnn Poloncic.
Poloncic told the Capital Journal that her brother was halfway through a paramedic program at Lake Area Technical Institute in Watertown when he made choice to head back to the family farm and run the operation with his father, Todd Rau.
"He was living the American dream," she said. "He was a tough farmer but he had a soft heart. He loved what he did."
Fischer, a crop sprayer for Air Kraft Spraying Inc., attended South Dakota State University and played defensive tackle for the school's football team from 2002-2005. Fischer's college coach, John Stiegelmeier, described him as a gifted athlete who was a great friend to his teammates.
The wreckage was found Monday at the South Dakota Wind Energy Center, a site south of Highmore with 27 turbines that are about 213 feet tall, plus the length of the blade.
The National Weather Service said fog and low clouds combined for reduced visibility in the Highmore area on Sunday night, and winds were out of the east at about 15 to 25 mph.
Rodi said the ultimate destination of the flight was Gettysburg, where the pilot lived, but he had picked up a passenger in Highmore on the way to Texas.
Highmore is less than 800 miles from Hereford, which falls within the maximum range of a Piper. However, factors such as how much fuel was in the plane when it left and head winds contribute to range, so that will also be part of the investigation, she said.
Rodi said that to her knowledge the plane did not stop to refuel, though that will be part of the investigation.
Fischer was certified to fly with instruments only but she didn't know if he was current on that rating, she added.
Civil Air Patrol Grounded Day Of Plane Disappearance
SIOUX FALLS, SD -
Captain Neil Schmid has been a pilot for many years, now working with the Civil Air Patrol. He's been through many different types of weather conditions and knows how quickly a flight plan can change.
"Clouds, ceilings, wind, winds upstairs and winds on the ground, visible moisture, visibility and so on," Schmid said.
More than one thing can keep a plane on the ground, and it could be more than one thing that led to a crash near Highmore, killing all four people on board. Schmid won't speculate about what could've brought the plane down, but he does know that on Sunday, the day the Piper 32 disappeared; the winds led to the cancellation of a scheduled drill and grounded every Civil Air Patrol aircraft.
"There were several aircraft in the air and it got too windy and we brought them down and held by the safety standard that we have," Schmid said.
Those planes are still grounded, waiting for the winds to calm down. Schmid says that he has flown a Piper PA-32R-300, like the one that went down, and like the planes he flies for the Civil Air Patrol; the smallest weather change can keep him from going in the air.
"Most light aircraft have weather capabilities, but it's fairly limited. You don't want to be flying through thunderstorms and severe high wind situations, you want to be very careful," Schmid said.
Schmid says the experience of the pilot can also go a long way in determining whether flying in certain weather conditions is safe.
"Always have an out. You can always turn around and go back the way you came from, that's probably best because if you're going into bad weather, the weather you came from is probably better than where you're going," Schmid said.
Schmid emphasized that anything discussed about why the plane went down is purely speculation until the NTSB concludes its investigation.
Story and video: http://www.keloland.com
Football Coach Remembers Plane Crash Victim
SIOUX FALLS, SD -
While the Federal Aviation Administration tries to learn more about the small plane that crashed and killed four people, SDSU Head Football Coach John Stiegelmeier is thinking about a saying he teaches the players who step onto his field.
"Play like it's your last play," Stiegelmeier said.
It is something Donald "DJ" Fischer, who is one of the four men killed in the crash, learned while he was a football player at SDSU. Fischer redshirted in 2001 and lettered from 2002 to 2005.
"This is a tough loss," Stiegelmeier said. "From my observation with his teammates, a great friend to many. Just a lovable guy."
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the single-engine Piper was registered to Fischer of Gettysburg. The crash was reported early Monday morning about five miles south of Highmore, which is 50 miles east of Pierre. The wreckage is near a wind farm south of Highmore and a blade on one of the wind towers appears to be broken. According to the FAA preliminary crash report, the aircraft hit the wind tower before crashing.
The National Weather Service in Aberdeen reported fog and low clouds combined for reduced visibility in the Highmore-area Sunday night. Winds were out of the east at about 15 to 25 miles per hour and there were scattered showers, some of them heavy.
Stiegelmeier got the news early Monday morning. He said the defensive tackle was serious and quiet. He let his work ethic do the talking for him.
"Anybody who works as hard as DJ Fischer worked, guys are going to look up to him. That's kind of the trademark of being a Jackrabbit. He was kind of a picture of that," Stiegelmeier said.
Fischer was an honorable mention all-Great West Football Conference selection as a junior in 2004. He also earned all-state recognition in football at Gettysburg High School as a junior and senior. The SDSU Football program is a big family, and right now players and colleagues who knew Fischer are leaning on each other for support. It is easy to see the motto Stiegelmeier teaches his teams goes beyond the football field.
"The lesson to me, is, live like it's your last day. I would say DJ did live his life like that. He lived his life to the fullest," Stiegelmeier said.
Story and video: http://www.keloland.com
HIGHMORE -- A small airplane heading back to South Dakota after a Texas cattle sale crashed into a wind farm in foggy weather.
Nick Reimann, Logan Rau, Brent Beitelspacher and pilot Donald ‘DJ’ Fischer all died in the crash. Sullivan Supply, a stock show industry news site, confirmed this information on its blog.
Steve Stengel with Florida-based NextEra Energy Resources says the wreckage was found on the site of the South Dakota Wind Energy Center.
That operation south of Highmore has 27 turbines that are about 213 feet tall, plus the length of the blade.
Fischer’s mother sparked the search for the wreckage when she hadn’t heard from him around 2 a.m. The plane was expected to land around 10 or 11 last night.
Doug Kroeplin helped the search party. He told KSFY News the plane stopped in Highmore to pick up a passenger on the way to Texas. Some assume Fischer planned to land in Highmore again on the return trip. The crash happened near the Highmore airport.
The National Weather Service in Aberdeen says fog and low clouds combined for reduced visibility in the area Sunday night. Winds were out of the east at about 15 to 25 mph and there were scattered showers, some of them heavy.
Story, video, photo gallery and comments/reaction: http://www.ksfy.com
DJ Fischer
Nick Reimann
Logan Rau
An Industry in Mourning
The stock show industry in mourning the loss of three young cattleman from tremendous South Dakota ranching families. Nick Reimann, Logan Rau, and Brent Beitelspacher were all involved in a deadly plane accident last night due to bad weather.
Read more here: http://pulse.sullivansupply.com/
HIGHMORE, S.D. — A small airplane that crashed into a wind turbine in central South Dakota and killed four people Monday morning was returning from a cattle sale in Hereford.
Three of the men killed in an early-morning plane cras been identified by information sent from funeral homes to the American News in Aberdeen, S.D.
Brent Beitelspacher, 37, of Bowdle, S.D., and Logan Rau, 25, of Java, S.D., were killed in an overnight airplane accident, according to their funeral notices.
Donald J. “D.J.” Fischer, of Gettysburg, S.D., died early this morning in the Highmore area, according to a death notice sent to the newspaper. A standout athlete, he played college football at South Dakota State University.
The fourth victim had not been identified Monday afternoon. The plane was en route from Hereford to South Dakota, an FAA official said.
Beitelspacher and Rau are all well-known in the cattle industry.
Mike Mimms, of Mimms Cattle Co. in Hereford, said Beitelspacher and Rau were in Hereford for Saturday’s Donor’s Unlimited Share the Future sale. He said Beitelspacher had one cow consigned in the sale and Rau two.
Mimms said that he has been buying cattle from the Beitelspachers in Bowdle for the past 15 years, but that he met Brent in person for the first time for about a minute before Saturday’s sale.
Both Beitelspacher and Rau had excellent reputations in the cattle industry, Mimms said. He said he and Beitelspacher have done millions of dollars in business over the phone.
“It was always honest dealings and fair dealings and mutual respect,” Mimms said.
“I can’t get their families out of my mind, thinking about them.”
Mimms said Beitelspacher traveled to Hereford so the two could meet after doing business together for so long, not to watch his one cow sell.
“They came down here to support this sale, not for any reason of their own,” Mimms said.
The plane was found near a damaged wind tower, according to the Associated Press.
The accident scene appears to be about 10 miles south of Highmore, to the west of County Road 47 near 207th Street.
Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Elizabeth Cory said the Piper 32 from traveling from Hereford on its way to Gettysburg.
She confirmed the tail number of the plan as 8700E. According to Federal Aviation Administration records, a plane with that tail number is registered to Fischer.
According to FAA records, Fischer’s plane is a Piper PA-32R-300. It is a fixed wing, single-engine plane manufactured in 1976.
Cory said the crash was reported early Monday morning about 5 miles south of Highmore, which is about 50 miles east of Pierre.
Kathy Zilverberg, an EMT in Highmore, said all EMTs got an alert at 2:30 this morning, saying officials were looking for a missing plane.
Hand County Sheriff Doug DeBoer said his office was contacted early Monday morning to help search for an overdue plane. DeBoer said he and others from the sheriff’s office and a Miller Police officer helped search near the wind farm in Hyde County before being told about 4 a.m. that the plane had been found.
Hyde County officials referred calls to the state’s attorney’s office, but the office phone number has been busy throughout the morning.
Dave Hintz, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Aberdeen, said that first responders in the Highmore area reported foggy conditions early this morning. There were likely low clouds in the area much like those in Aberdeen this morning, he said.
Rain has been off and on all day today, making gravel roads soft around the wind farm.
Cory said the National Transportation Safety Board is heading the investigation into the crash and that the FAA is also involved.
http://amarillo.com
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — A small airplane heading back to South Dakota after a Texas cattle sale crashed into a wind farm in foggy weather, killing the pilot and three passengers.
Steve Stengel, a spokesman for Florida-based NextEra Energy Resources says the wreckage was found at the 27-turbine South Dakota Wind Energy Center.
The FAA says the single-engine Piper found Monday was registered to Donald J. “D.J.” Fischer of Gettysburg, South Dakota.
Funeral homes confirmed the deaths of Fischer and cattlemen Brent Beitelspacher, of Bowdle, and Logan Rau, of Java. The fourth passenger was not named.
The National Weather Service in Aberdeen says fog and low clouds combined for reduced visibility in the area Sunday night. Winds were out of the east at about 15 to 25 mph and there were scattered showers.
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A small airplane heading back to South Dakota after a Texas cattle sale crashed into a wind farm in foggy weather, killing the pilot and three passengers.
Elizabeth Cory, a spokeswoman for the Federal Aviation Administration, said the Piper PA-32 was traveling from Hereford, Texas, to Gettysburg, South Dakota. The single-engine plane was registered to Donald J. “D.J.” Fischer of Gettysburg, according to the FAA.
Authorities have not released the names of the victims, and the National Transportation Safety Board is investigating.
The three passengers were in Hereford to attend a sale of live cattle and embryos, primarily for the production of show steers, said Mike Mimms, a veterinarian who runs the annual event.
Mimms said the three cattlemen noted that they had a rough flight down to Texas due to high winds, and conditions were similar in Hereford when they left.
“They made it through the windy weather, and the fog was the problem when they got there,” he said.
The wreckage was found Monday at the South Dakota Wind Energy Center, a site south of Highmore with 27 turbines that are about 213 feet tall, plus the length of the blade.
Steve Stengel, a spokesman with Florida-based NextEra Energy Inc., said there was damage to a turbine but he couldn’t say what part of the tower was hit.
“It’s been so foggy up there and we haven’t had a chance to investigate,” Stengel said Monday.
Fog and low clouds combined for reduced visibility in the Highmore area on Sunday night, and winds were out of the east at about 15 to 25 mph, said Renee Wise, meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in Aberdeen. There were also scattered showers across region Sunday night, and some might have been heavy at times, she said.
Mimms, who performs cattle embryo transfers, said the news has sent shock and sadness through the close-knit ranching community.
“There are a lot of people out there who feel like they lost one of their best friends,” Mimms said.
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HIGHMORE A missing plane that was discovered Monday morning in a central South Dakota field was found close to a damaged wind tower, a spokesman for the wind company said.
Four people died, FAA spokeswoman Elizabeth Cory said. The plane was traveling from Hereford, Texas, to Gettysburg.
The crash was reported early Monday just south of Highmore, which is 50 miles east of Pierre.
Steve Stengel, a spokesman for Florida-based NextEra Energy, said the plane was discovered at its South Dakota Wind Energy Center, a 27-turbine operation near Highmore.
"One of our turbines is damaged in proximity to the plane, but in terms of investigating, we haven't had a chance to investigate our turbine," Stengel said.
The Piper PA-32 was registered to Gettysburg crop sprayer Donald J. Fischer, who flew for Air Kraft Spraying Inc., according to his listing with the South Dakota Aviation Association. Fischer is listed as a member of the association's board of directors.
Authorities have not released the names of the victims.
According to FAA records, the seven-seat Piper was built in 1976. The plane was licensed to Fischer in 2012 and was valid through 2015.
Hand County Sheriff Doug DeBoer told the Aberdeen American News that his office helped with the search near a wind farm until being told the wreckage had been found.
Hyde County's sheriff referred calls to the state's attorney's office, which didn't immediately return a call seeking comment.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating.
Source: http://www.argusleader.com
HIGHMORE — Four people were killed when a small plane flying from Texas crashed in central South Dakota.
FAA spokeswoman Elizabeth Cory said the Piper PA-32 from traveling from Hereford, Texas, on its way to Gettysburg.
She confirmed the tail number of the plan as N8700E. According to Federal Aviation Administration records, a plane with that tail number is registered to Donald J. Fischer, of Gettysburg.
A death notice sent to the American News notes that Donald J. "D.J." Fischer, of Gettysburg, died early this morning in the Highmore area.
According to FAA records, Fischer's plane is a Piper PA-32R-300. It is a fixed wing, single-engine plane manufactured in 1976.
Cory says the crash was reported early this morning about 5 miles south of Highmore, which is about 50 miles east of Pierre.
Hereford is southwest of Amarillo in north Texas.
Dave Hintz, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Aberdeen, said that first responders in the Highmore area reported foggy conditions early this morning. There were likely low clouds in the area much like those in Aberdeen this morning, he said.
Cory says all four people onboard were killed. Their names will be released when their families are notified.
Hand County Sheriff Doug DeBoer said his office was contacted early this morning to help search for an overdue plane. DeBoer said he and others from the sheriff's office and a Miller Police officer helped search near the wind farm in Hyde County before being told about 4 a.m. that the plane had been found.
Hyde County officials referred calls to the state's attorney's office, but the office phone number has been busy throughout the morning.
Cory said the National Transportation Safety Board is heading the investigation into the crash and that the FAA is also involved.
The identities of the victims will be released by the local coroner, she said.
American News reporter Elisa Sand (@ElisaSand_AA) is en route to Highmore at this hour.
Source: http://www.aberdeennews.com
FAA:4 Killed In Plane Crash Near Highmore, SD
A South Dakota sheriff says a plane crash that killed four people happened near a wind farm.
FAA spokeswoman Elizabeth Cory says the Piper PA-32 was traveling from Hereford, Texas, to Gettysburg.
The crash was reported early Monday just south of Highmore, which is 50 miles east of Pierre.
Cory says all four people onboard were killed. Their names will be released when their families are notified.
The plane is registered to someone in Gettysburg.
Hand County Sheriff Doug DeBoer says his office helped with the search near a wind farm until being told the wreckage had been found.
Hyde County's sheriff referred calls to the state's attorney's office, which didn't immediately return a call seeking comment.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating.
http://www.kdlt.com
The crash of a small plane south of Highmore this morning is said to have caused the deaths of four people. The Federal Aviation Administration says the crash involved a Piper PA-32 aircraft. Elizabeth Cory, a spokesperson for the FAA in Chicago says the crash was reported about 3:44 a.m. this morning and the plane had been traveling from Texas to Gettysburg, South Dakota. She says all information at this time is preliminary…..
Audio news report: http://wnax.com
