Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

St Paul, Minnesota 55055
Thursday, August 30, 1990 10:58 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

ABOUT 1.5 HRS AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PLT RPRTD A LOSS OF ENG POWER. WHEN ASKED ABOUT HER POSITION, THE PLT RPRTD THAT SHE WAS 'OVER THE RIVER.' A WITNESS SAW THE ACFT AT AN ESTIMATED 500 TO 800 FT AGL. HE SAID THE ACFT'S NOSE ROSE TO A HIGH ANGLE, THEN THE RIGHT WING DROPPED & THE ACFT WENT INTO A SPIN & DOVE INTO THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL FAILURE WAS FOUND. ON THE PREVIOUS FLT, THE ACFT HAD BEEN FLOWN ABOUT 1.4 HRS, USING FUEL FROM THE RIGHT FUEL TANK. THERE WAS NO RECORD OF THE ACFT HAVING BEEN REFUELED AFTER THAT FLT. DURING A POST-ACDNT EXAM OF THE ACFT, THE FUEL BOOST PUMP WAS FOUND IN THE 'ON' POSITION, BOTH FUEL GAGES WERE INDICATING EMPTY & THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS FND POSITIONED TO THE RIGHT TANK.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION, DUE TO AN INADEQUATE SUPPLY OF FUEL, AND FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL/SPIN.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/30/1990
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1058
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City ST PAUL
Event State MINNESOTA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 55055
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 8
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) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 150
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 9
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
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 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2217
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 30 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1430
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 43969
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 5:15PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8871M
NTSB Number CHI90FA250
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 BEECH
Aircraft Model A23A
Aircraft Series Identifier A23A
Aircraft Serial Number M-614
Certified Max Gross Weight 2400
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 1 1990 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 67
Airframe Hours 2454
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name PAUL DOTTY
Aircraft Owner Street Address 109 E ISABEL
Aircraft Owner City ST. PAUL
Aircraft Owner State MN
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 55107
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name BLACK SHEEP FLYING CLUB
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address
Operator City ST. PAUL
Operator State MN
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 55107
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 STP
Departure City ST PAUL
Departure State MN
Departure Country
Departure Time 925
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 Descent
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 --