Spirit Of St. Louis Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Chesterfield, Missouri 63005
Wednesday, October 26, 1994 18:00 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE STUDENT SOLO PILOT RETURNED FROM A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT COMPLAINING OF HEADACHE, NAUSEA, AND DIFFICULTY WALKING. THE PILOT STATED THAT SHE HAD SMELLED EXHAUST FUMES, WAS NOT TAUGHT OF A POTENTIAL CONNECTION BETWEEN EXHAUST SMELLS AND CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING, AND CONTINUED THE FLIGHT. MEDICAL TESTS REVEALED ELEVATED CARBON MONOXIDE, WHICH REQUIRED 5 1/2 HOURS OF 100% OXYGEN TO REDUCE TO NORMAL LEVELS. POST-FLIGHT INSPECTION REVEALED A CRACK IN THE REPAIRED MUFFLER WHICH HAD BEEN INSTALLED 18 HOURS EARLIER. THE PRIVATE PILOT PRACTICAL TEST STANDARDS REQUIRE THAT AN APPLICANT EXHIBIT KNOWLEDGE OF SYMPTOMS, EFFECTS, AND CORRECTIVE ACTIONS FOR CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the cracked heater exhaust muffler which resulted from an improper repair. Factors were the physical impairment of the solo flight student as a result of her inadequate training concerning carbon monoxide hazards.

Event Information

Type of Event Incident
Event Date 10/26/1994
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1800
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City CHESTERFIELD
Event State MISSOURI
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 63005
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport SPIRIT OF ST. LOUIS
Event Location Nearest Airport ID SUS
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 0
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 5029
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Nov 2 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1847
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 12:25PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7XC
NTSB Number CHI95IA030
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage None
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 150
Aircraft Series Identifier 150
Aircraft Serial Number 15078099
Certified Max Gross Weight 1600
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection Oct 11 1994 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 18
Airframe Hours 3822
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MIDWEST AIR SERVICE, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 18445 EDISON AVE
Aircraft Owner City CHESTERFIELD
Aircraft Owner State MO
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 63005
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name MIDWEST AIR SERVICE, INC.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 18445 EDISON AVE
Operator City CHESTERFIELD
Operator State MO
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 63005
Operator Code DGA
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code SUS
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 900
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code SUS
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --