NTSB releases preliminary report on deadly Pierre plane crash

November 7, 2023

The National Transportation Safety Board has released its preliminary report into the October 23rd crash of a single engine airplane west of Pierre Regional Airport.

It shows the pilot, 59 year-old Dr. Eric Meyer, put 10 gallons of fuel in before takeoff, giving the plane a total load of 100 gallons before taking off for Steamboat Springs, Colorado.

Meyer reported no problems until reaching 11,000 feet, when the engine abruptly stopped and rolled back.

Meyer noted no warning signals from the cockpit before the loss of power.

Meyer declared an emergency and attempted to return to Pierre Regional Airport. He could not restart the engine during the emergency descent and the plane also lost electrical power during the attempted return.

The plane landed upright in the rolling terrain west of State Highway 1806.

A passenger in the plane, 76 year-old Hugh Alexander, was killed.