Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Altoona, Alabama 35952
Friday, April 13, 1990 17:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING FLIGHT, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH TREES WHEN THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO STOP IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA THAT WAS SELECTED. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT FUEL WAS REMAINING, BUT THE VENT PORT WAS CLOGGED BY MUD FROM AN INSECT WEST.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT AND A BLOCKED FUEL VENT, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL STARVATION.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/13/1990
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1730
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City ALTOONA
Event State ALABAMA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 35952
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 4
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Witness
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 Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 22
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
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) 0
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 FAA
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 222
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Apr 13 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1900
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 40988
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N36RH
NTSB Number ATL90DKJ05
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name HOOD
Aircraft Model QUICKIE
Aircraft Series Identifier QUICKIE
Aircraft Serial Number 75-RHI
Certified Max Gross Weight 480
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 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MICHAEL E KEIRNAN
Aircraft Owner Street Address 117 HARTINGTON DRIVE
Aircraft Owner City MADISON
Aircraft Owner State AL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 35758
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name MICHAEL E. KIERNAN
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 117 MARTINGTON DRIVE
Operator City MADISON
Operator State AL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 35758
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 No
Departure Airport Code GAD
Departure City GADSDEN
Departure State AL
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code DCU
Destination City DECATUR
Destination State AL
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --