Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Princeton, Minnesota 55371
Tuesady, July 13, 1999 12:03 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane was destroyed when it was consumed by fire following an impact with terrain, during an emergency landing. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot said that after takeoff, at an altitude of about 300 feet above ground level (AGL), and an airspeed of 70 knots, '...the aircraft began to roll around it's longitudinal axis left then right continuously.' The pilot said that, 'the uncontrollable roll left/right started a descent of the aircraft.' The pilot was attempting to return to PNM when he determined that the aircraft was '... too low for landing at PNM and an emergency landing was made....' The pilot said that the left wing of the airplane struck a tree on landing and subsequently burst into flames as he was attempting to exit the aircraft. A postaccident examination revealed no identified anomalies with respect to the airframe or control system. The entire fuselage and the inboard portions of the wings were consumed by fire. The engine was examined and it evidenced fire damage.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The erratic aileron control response for undetermined reasons. A factor was the tree.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/13/1999
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1203
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City PRINCETON
Event State MINNESOTA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 55371
Event Date Year 1999
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
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 979
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1157 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID PNM
Elevation of weather observation facility 979
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
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) 140
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1591
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 13 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1712
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Jan 23 2001 9:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N188AK
NTSB Number CHI99LA234
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 Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Grimm
Aircraft Model SEA HAWKER
Aircraft Series Identifier SEA HAWKER
Aircraft Serial Number 01
Certified Max Gross Weight 1850
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
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 Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Dec 1 1998 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 1
Airframe Hours 1
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ADRIAN GRIMM
Aircraft Owner Street Address 901 118TH LN NW
Aircraft Owner City COON RAPIDS
Aircraft Owner State MN
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 55448
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 No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code PNM
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1200
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 23 2001 11:29AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 15
Runway Length 3900
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --