Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Mt. Grove, Missouri 65711
Monday, August 6, 1990 9:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE VINTAGE AIRPLANE WAS MAKING TAKEOFF AND LANDINGS WHEN, ON ITS SECOND TAKEOFF, THE POWERPLANT FAILED DUE TO FUEL CONTAMINATION. THE AIRPLANE GLIDED STRAIGHT AHEAD AND CRASHED INTO THE TREES. POST CRASH INVESTIGATION BY THE FAA REVEALED RUST AND SCALE IN THE FUEL TANKS WHICH HAD BEEN RECENTLY CLEANED BY THE PILOT. THIS CONTAMINATION WAS NOT NOTICED BY THE PILOT DURING HIS PREFLIGHT INSPECTION.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE AND SERVICING OF THE AIRCRAFT. A FACTOR WAS WATER CONTAMINATION IN FUEL TANK.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/6/1990
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 930
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City MT. GROVE
Event State MISSOURI
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 65711
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 Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 855 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 14
Weather Observation Facility ID TBN
Elevation of weather observation facility 1159
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 37
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2800
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) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 20
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 4
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 None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1648
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 6 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1210
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 42980
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 N5368N
NTSB Number CHI90LA223
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 STEARMAN
Aircraft Model E-75
Aircraft Series Identifier E-75
Aircraft Serial Number 75-5128
Certified Max Gross Weight 2950
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 --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ROBERT D JOHNSON
Aircraft Owner Street Address RT 3 BOX 226AA
Aircraft Owner City MT. GROVE
Aircraft Owner State MO
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 65711
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ROBERT D. JOHNSTON
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address RT 3 BOX 226AA
Operator City MT. GROVE
Operator State MO
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 65711
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
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 930
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 10:35AM
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 --