April 20, 2015
South Dakota

New report says wind turbine light out in Highmore crash

KSFY | Apr 20, 2015 | www.ksfy.com

A week from Monday marks one year since the fatal Highmore plane crash claiming the lives of cattlemen Brent Beitelspacher, Logan Rau, Nick Reimann and pilot D.J. Fischer.

An updated report from the National Transportation Safety Board now says the light on the wind turbine tower D.J. Fischer’s plane crashed into April 27, 2014 was not working the night of the accident.

The NTSB says it was reported to them that the tower light was not working at the time of the accident and had been defective for an undefined period.

It was a foggy evening, and at this time there is no knowing just why Fischer was flying so low when his plane collided with the wind turbine blade.

The investigation is ongoing.

“The SDAA is made up of professional pilots who take pilot safety very seriously. DJ was a very well trained, well-educated pilot. It’s imperative to our safety, that any and all obstructions be marked, so we can see them. We not only lost a member, we lost a great friend and amazing person as did the Rau Beitelspacher, and Reimann family and friends,” SD Aviation Association President John Otte said.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2015/04/20/new-report-says-wind-turbine-light-out-in-highmore-crash/