What happened
During the takeoff phase at Pine Ridge Airport (IEN), a Cessna (type not specified) entered a stall while performing its initial climb to the south. The pilot reported that the aircraft began to buffet, leading to an imminent stall. Due to insufficient altitude for recovery, the aircraft stalled and impacted the terrain. The impact caused the right wing and main landing gear to strike the ground, after which the aircraft nosed over. The accident resulted in no fatalities or injuries, but the aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The investigation
The pilot reported encountering deteriorating weather conditions during the flight. Specifically, a squall line was observed approximately two miles west of the aircraft's location, accompanied by light rain and pea-sized hail. Automated surface observations from Pine Ridge Airport at 1530 recorded winds from 340 degrees at 14 knots, gusting to 21 knots, with 10 miles of visibility. The weather report also indicated few clouds at 3,300 feet above ground level, with thunderstorms in the vicinity and lightning visible to the west and southwest.
Findings
- The aircraft experienced an aerodynamic stall during the initial climb.
- Insufficient altitude prevented the pilot from recovering from the stall before impacting the terrain.