SCOUTING YESTERDAY | Collisions, crashes, cable cutting dot South Dakota's checkered aviation past

This week in South Dakota history: Oct. 24-30

Passengers Dick Hervey and John Spalding inspect the damage to the North Central Airlines plane in June, 1968. (Courtesy photo: Argus Leader)

A scare for South Dakota’s already aviation-wary residents came two days ahead of Halloween a half century ago when an engine on a regional airliner ensnared a flock of ducks during a descent into the Sioux Falls airport 50 years ago today.

And though tragedy was avoided — no one perished in the North Central Airlines emergency landing reported in the Oct. 30, 1975, edition of the Argus Leader — the close call stirred memories of earlier crashes that still ripple through South Dakota.

The incident was the latest in a string of near disasters in the state, both before and after mallards and the aircraft collided at an elevation of 4,000 feet — each leaving a lasting mark on South Dakota aviation history.

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