WASHINGTON (KELO.com) — The National Transportation Safety Board says that an aircraft that had been missing for nearly two weeks clipped a 60-foot tree about seven miles north of the Aberdeen Regional Airport.
The NTSB issued a preliminary report today. The plane crashed after 10:30 p.m. October 9th, shortly after takeoff.
The aircraft, a 64-year-old Cessna 172, tail number N6483B, hit the tree, skidded on the ground, went across Moccasin Creek, then came to a crumpled rest on the creek’s east embankment.
The pilot, Gerald Seliski, according to the FAA, did not hold a pilot’s license. The NTSB says the pilot died from his injuries in the crash. He was 70 years old and from Hecla, South Dakota. He was headed to Oakes, North Dakota.
The North and South Dakota Civil Air Patrol, the United States Air Force, the Brown County Sheriff’s Office and Office of Emergency Management, and North Dakota authorities searched for over a week and a half without finding the aircraft. Poor weather conditions hampered the early stages of the search.
Below is the NTSB’s preliminary report.
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On October 9, 2019, about 2235 central daylight time, a Cessna 172 airplane, N6483B, registered to and operated by the pilot, was destroyed when it impacted terrain about 7 miles north of the Aberdeen Regional Airport (ABR), Aberdeen, South Dakota. The non-certificated pilot, who was the sole occupant, sustained fatal injuries. Dark night instrument meteorological conditions prevailed in the area and a flight plan was not filed. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Federal Code of Regulations Part 91. The flight originated from ABR about 2231 and its intended destination was Oaks, North Dakota.
According to records provided by the airport and a local fixed base operator (FBO), the airplane was flown to ABR by the pilot on September 30, 2019, to be assessed for an annual inspection. The pilot was informed by the FBO of what work needed to be accomplished to complete the annual inspection. The pilot decided not to have the work completed, and departed from ABR. Airport video surveillance records showed the airplane taking off from runway 31 about 2231 on October 9, 2019. The airplane wreckage was located on October 21, 2019, by a hunter and reported to local authorities. First responders identified the airplane and notified the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The NTSB arrived on scene on October 22, 2019.
The weather at ABR about the time of the accident was recorded at 2253 and reported 350° 19 knots with gusts to 27 knots, visibility 7 mile in light rain, sky condition broken clouds at 700 ft, overcast clouds at 1,400 ft, temperature 5° dewpoint temperature 3°, altimeter 29.94, peek wind 340° at 27 knots. According to residents who lived nearby the accident site, the weather was cold, windy, low clouds, fog, and mist on the night of October 9th.
The airplane’s wreckage was in a farmer’s field, about 7 miles north of ABR, grid coordinates: 45.561709 N -098.460366 W. On scene observations showed evidence that the airplane initially impacted a 60-ft tall tree with its left wing. Debris was scattered beyond the initial impact of the tree on a heading of 148°. The fuselage skidded along the ground for about 500 ft, and came to rest on the edge of a small pond. Both wings remained attached to the fuselage with extensive crush damage. The cabin section opened during the impact sequence. The tail separated about flight station (FS) 90 and was partially attached by control cables. The vertical Page 2 of 3 CEN20FA010 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. fin and rudder separated during the impact sequence and were found about 15 ft in front of the main wreckage.
Flight control cable continuity was established from all control surface to the cockpit controls. All flight controls remained attached to the respecting surface. The flap handle (bar) was observed in the third notch (30° of flaps). The firewall and engine separated and was found about 20 ft in front of the main wreckage, submerged in standing water. The propeller assembly was found fractured at the engine crank flange and both propeller blades were twisted.
The airframe fuel system could not be examined due to impact damage. Both fuel tanks were compromised and impact damaged. Maintenance logbooks and the pilot’s logbook were not found. According to FAA records, the pilot did not hold a valid pilot certificate. After the on-scene examinations were completed, the wreckage was moved to a secure facility in Lakeville, Minnesota.
