Jensen Airfield Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Rosemount, Minnesota 55068
Tuesady, August 4, 1998 19:25 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Witnesses reported that the pilot and second pilot were practicing touch and goes for approximately 30 minutes prior to the accident. A witness reported observing the airplane climbing out from runway 27 at about 300 to 500 feet agl. He reported it appeared to do a wing rock to the right, and then the airplane's wings leveled momentarily. The left wing and nose dropped to the left and the airplane went straight down. The blade underneath the engine exhibited leading edge damage and chordwise scratching on the front and back of the blade. The propeller dome exhibited some rotational and torque signatures. The examination of the aircraft revealed continuity through the engine drive train and flight controls. Fuel samples were taken from the left wing. The fuel was tested and it indicated that one sample was contaminated with water.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The loss of engine power due to water-contaminated fuel and the pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed which resulted in a stall.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/4/1998
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1925
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City ROSEMOUNT
Event State MINNESOTA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 55068
Event Date Year 1998
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport JENSEN AIRFIELD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 940
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1955 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 225
Weather Observation Facility ID LVN
Elevation of weather observation facility 960
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 8
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 9000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 23
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 300
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 1981
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 897
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 4 1998 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2331
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 11:41AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9396D
NTSB Number CHI98FA300
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-18-150
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-18-150
Aircraft Serial Number 18-6673
Certified Max Gross Weight 1750
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Oct 1 1997 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 22
Airframe Hours 1821
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name FRED W. AMYOTTE
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2350 CONSTANCE BLVD NE
Aircraft Owner City HAM LAKE
Aircraft Owner State MN
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 55304
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1850
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 27
Runway Length 2500
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --