N8186K Piper PA-25 Pawnee Aviation Accident 2025-07-12
FATAL ACCIDENT (1) Black Hills Soaring Club Inc owned Piper PA-25 Pawnee, N8186K, N of Hot Springs Municipal Airport (KHSR), SD, July 12, 2025.
Interactive Map
Accident Information
| Approx. Accident Location | Aircraft Fat. | Aircraft Inj. | Ground Fat. | Ground Inj. | ASN Entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 45°37'16.19"N, 5°52'50.08"E | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | Aviation Safety Network |
1Aircraft Information
| Type | Operator | Registration | Serial Number | Manufacture Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Piper PA-25 Pawnee | Black Hills Soaring Club Inc | N8186K | 25-163 | 1960 |
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Videos
NTSB investigating the July 12 crash of a Piper PA-25 airplane near Hot Springs, South Dakota.
— NTSB Newsroom (@NTSB_Newsroom) July 12, 2025
ASX Accident Report
On Saturday, July 12, 2025, at approximately 1:25 p.m. local time, a Piper PA-25 Pawnee registered N8186K, operated by the Black Hills Soaring Club, crashed just north of Hot Springs Municipal Airport (KHSR) in South Dakota while engaged in banner or glider towing operations. The aircraft, built in 1960 (serial number 25-163), was being used in support of local aerial activities and was reportedly either towing a glider or had recently completed a towing operation at the time of the accident. The sole occupant of the aircraft, a pilot, was fatally injured in the crash. Another individual - possibly involved on the ground or related to glider operations - was reported injured, but their identity and condition remain unconfirmed.
Preliminary information from the Hot Springs SD Volunteer Fire Department indicated that emergency services responded immediately after receiving a report of a plane down north of the airport. Upon arrival, responders confirmed one fatality and initiated medical aid for the injured party. The aircraft was destroyed on impact, and the specific crash dynamics (e.g., stall, structural failure, glider tow complications) have not yet been released. The NTSB acknowledged the event publicly via its official Twitter account the same evening, confirming an active investigation. However, no preliminary report or docket had been published at the time of this summary. According to the FAA aircraft inquiry page, N8186K was registered and in active status at the time of the crash.
As of now, the cause of the accident remains officially undetermined. The FAA and NTSB are continuing their investigation, with early attention likely focused on the aircraft’s operational load, mechanical integrity, and flight path geometry during the glider towing sequence. The PA-25 Pawnee, while widely used in agricultural and towing roles, is subject to high dynamic stress during climbout with glider loads. Investigators will likely review maintenance records, recent tow logs, and possible environmental contributors such as windshear or thermal turbulence. No cockpit voice or flight data recorder is onboard such legacy aircraft, so ground witness statements and airfield radar/surveillance data may prove critical in reconstructing the flight profile.
This information is very tentative. This page will be updated as more information becomes available.
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Sources and References
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