Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Minden, Nebraska 68959
Sunday, August 12, 1990 7:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WHILE EXECUTING AN AERIAL APPLICATION TURN-AROUND MANEUVER, THE PLT SAID THAT THE POWERPLANT SEEMED TO LOSE POWER. THE ACFT STALLED, COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN, SLID TO A STOP, THEN BURST INTO FLAMES. METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS WERE CONDUCIVE FOR CARBURETOR ICING AT THE TIME, AND POST ACCIDENT ENGINE INSPECTION FAILED TO REVEAL ANY MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A STALL ENCOUNTERED BECAUSE OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL NOT MAINTAINED BY THE PIC. FACTORS WERE A PARTIAL POWERPLANT FAILURE DUE TO CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS, CARBURETOR HEAT NOT USED BY THE PIC, AND LOAD JETTISON NOT PERFORMED BY THE PIC.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/12/1990
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 730
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City MINDEN
Event State NEBRASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 68959
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 NONE
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 2130
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 752 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 330
Weather Observation Facility ID EAR
Elevation of weather observation facility 2130
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 20
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 700
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 4
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 360
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) --
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) 934
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 12 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1200
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 42105
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 N6358Z
NTSB Number CHI90LA226
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 137: Agricultural
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-25-150
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-25-150
Aircraft Serial Number 25-474
Certified Max Gross Weight 2300
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 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jun 4 1990 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 70
Airframe Hours 1263
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MICHAEL P. CAVANAUGH
Aircraft Owner Street Address RT. 3 BOX 64
Aircraft Owner City MINDEN
Aircraft Owner State NE
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 68959
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 Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Agriculture
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Unknown
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Unknown
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Unknown
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Aerial Application
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 715
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 Maneuvering
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 --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --