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March 28, 2024

Inoperable Wind Turbine light highlighted in NTSB report on plane crash that killed 4 –

By John Kraft & Kirk Allen

On April 19, 2015

HIGHMORE, S.D. (ECWd) –

The NTSB released its factual report on a plane crash that occurred on April 27, 2014 near Highmore, South Dakota resulting in the death of 4, including 3 cattlemen and the pilot.

The plane crashed into a 300 foot tall wind turbine that was part of a larger wind farm.

Among the items listed in this report was that the pilot, experienced in flying in the area of the crash, had previously expressed concerns to the FAA Flight Standards District Office about this wind farm (page 2) and that the light on top of the turbine was reported as not functioning (page 7). Finish reading the NTSB’s report below (or click here).

Vermilion County – In January of 2014, the Vermilion County Board was asked to fact-find issues with malfunctioning wind turbine lights in the California Ridge farm, and the board quickly dismissed any sense of responsibility and any attempt at levying fines against Invenergy for not following established rules – all while allowing Mike Blazier, attorney for Invenergy, to simply put something in writing – establish it as fact – and never fact check it. (article here)

Excerpts from the Public Comments section of the January Vermilion County Board Meeting:

-Mr. Miles asks the board to look into the November 17th power failure where Invenergy failed to light the turbine towers as required by the county ordinance. He states that that to his knowledge, no NOTAM was filed as required and asks that county assistant state’s attorney Bill Donahue look into the issue. According to Mr. Miles, the county fine for the ordinance violation is $1,000 per turbine or $104,000!

-Next to speak is John Kraft from the Edgar County Watchdogs, Mr. Kraft questioned the Invenergy e-mail to the county that states that during the November lighting failure that procedure was followed. Mr. Kraft did a search of NOTAMS and did not find any that related to the Invenergy complex failure in November. Mr. Kraft requested that the board ask Invenergy for proof that the procedure was followed. He suggests that the proof should be in the form of a letter from the FAA to confirm compliance.

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CEN14FA224_Factual

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Turbine

File Photo

 

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14 Comments
  • ECWDogs
    Posted at 14:39h, 19 April

    Inoperable Wind Turbine light highlighted in NTSB report on plane crash that killed 4 – http://t.co/cggOb2Q0sl

  • TLW3
    Posted at 15:44h, 19 April

    Inoperable Wind Turbine light highlighted in NTSB report on plane crash that killed 4 – http://t.co/5K16t0vBcQ #news

  • Glenties_WiG
    Posted at 16:27h, 19 April

    RT @ECWDogs: Inoperable Wind Turbine light highlighted in NTSB report on plane crash that killed 4 -: HIGHMORE, S.D. (ECWd) -… http://t.c…

  • NoonanJoe
    Posted at 16:35h, 19 April

    MT “@ECWDogs: Inoperative Wind Turbine light reported in NTSB report on 4 fatality plane crash at SD windfarm
    http://t.co/eas2kzc9RK”

  • no2wind
    Posted at 16:45h, 19 April

    RT @ECWDogs: Inoperable Wind Turbine light highlighted in NTSB report on plane crash that killed 4 -: HIGHMORE, S.D. (ECWd) -… http://t.c…

  • no2wind
    Posted at 16:47h, 19 April

    @ECWDogs @Glenties_WiG So let me get this straight. 4 pple died bcos their plane crashed in2 a turbine & the required light on top was off?

  • safesetbacks
    Posted at 17:03h, 19 April

    Inoperable Wind Turbine light highlighted in NTSB report on plane crash that killed 4 – http://t.co/FGXFIb7vob via @ECWDogs

  • jannie
    Posted at 17:06h, 19 April

    Sad, interesting, not surprising.
    Just as an aside – one of the things that politicians fall for is the when in comes to Industrial Wind Complexes is “jobs” for their community – like the (probably) one person in Juno Beach Florida monitoring the NextEra wind turbines all over the country including this one in SD.

  • 4ASSIMILATION
    Posted at 21:12h, 19 April

    #Crash Inoperable Wind Turbine light highlighted in NTSB report on plane crash that … – Edgar County… http://t.co/bgMXA7IU1x via #hng

  • no2wind
    Posted at 02:44h, 20 April

    Lights on wind turbine not working – no warning 2 aircraft?
    http://t.co/dUktQoYUPj

    • S.W.A.T (@no2wind)
      Posted at 11:03h, 05 May

      Looks like it. Was off for undefined period of time.

  • SnakeDjm
    Posted at 02:55h, 20 April

    RT @no2wind: Lights on wind turbine not working – no warning 2 aircraft?
    http://t.co/dUktQoYUPj

  • Mike Woodyard
    Posted at 08:22h, 20 April

    Mike Woodyard liked this on Facebook.

  • ryanfeehan09
    Posted at 13:42h, 20 April

    RT @no2wind: Lights on wind turbine not working – no warning 2 aircraft?
    http://t.co/dUktQoYUPj

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