Dubuque Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Dubuque, Iowa 52001
Friday, July 29, 1988 17:00 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

AT A FUEL STOP IN DUBUQUE, IA THE PIC PURCHASED FUEL FOR THE FINAL LEG OF HIS FLT TO OSHKOSH. AFTER A PRE-FLT CHK AND SUBSEQUENT ENG RUNUP, THE PIC TOOK THE ACTIVE RWY AND COMMENCED A TAKEOFF ROLL. THE LIFT OFF AND INITIAL CLIMB WENT WITHOUT DIFFICULTY UNTIL THE ACFT ATTAINED 200 FT ALTITUDE. THE PIC STATED THAT THE ENG QUIT SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. WITH NO CLEAR SPOT AHEAD TO MAKE THE FORCED LANDING, THE PIC TURNED 180 DEGREES IN AN ATTEMPT TO LAND BACK ON THE RWY. DURING THE DESCENT THE PIC ATTEMPTED A RESTART WHICH FAILED. UNABLE TO REACH THE RWY THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN IN A GRASSY AREA ADJACENT TO THE RWY. THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED, FOLLOWED BY TOTAL GEAR COLLAPSE. THE ACFT SLID TO A STOP. SUBSEQUENT INSP OF THE ACFT REVEALED A SHORTED IGNITION SYSTEM, ORIGINATING IN A ELECTRIC TACH. IN HIS ACCIDENT RPT THE PIC STATED THAT ELECTRICAL SYSTEM REDUNDANCY WAS NOW A HIGH PRIORITY.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/29/1988
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1700
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City DUBUQUE
Event State IOWA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 52001
Event Date Year 1988
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport DUBUQUE
Event Location Nearest Airport ID DBQ
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 1075
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1656 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID DBQ
Elevation of weather observation facility 1075
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 25000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 6
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 31
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 20
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 210
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 11
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 19
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
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) 1353
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 29 1988 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1819
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 37470
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 11:57AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N131RD
NTSB Number MKC88LA142
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 SHIRLAN DICKEY
Aircraft Model E-RACER
Aircraft Series Identifier E-RACER
Aircraft Serial Number ER-1
Certified Max Gross Weight 2000
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 Jun 3 1988 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 20
Airframe Hours 91
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name K SHIRLAN DICKEY
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1702 W MCNAIR
Aircraft Owner City CHANDLER
Aircraft Owner State AZ
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 85224
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name SHIRLAN DICKEY
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 11455 S. MANDAN ST.
Operator City PHOENIX
Operator State AZ
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 85044
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
Departure City DUBUQUE
Departure State IA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1655
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City OSHKOSH
Destination State WI
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
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 31
Runway Length 3200
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --