Gateway North Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Ramsey, Minnesota 55303
Sunday, May 21, 1989 18:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WHILE RETURNING TO THE AIRPORT AFTER GIVING HIS PASSENGER HER FIRST AIRPLANE RIDE, THE PASSENGER BECAME ILL. WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH, THE PAX BENT FORWARD CAUSING CONTROL INTERFERENCE IN THE SIDE BY SIDE STICK CONFIGURED ACFT. THE PLT SAID HE WAS HAVING DIFFICULTY MAINTAINING CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AND LANDED ABOUT 100 YARDS SHORT OF THE RUNWAY COLLIDING WITH A SEVEN FOOT DEEP DITCH. THE ACFT THEN NOSED OVER INTO AN INVERTED POSITION.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PASSENGERS INTERFERENCE WITH THE FLIGHT CONTROLS AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. CONTRIBUTING TO THE SEVERITY OF THE ACCIDENT WAS THE DITCH LOCATED SHORT OF THE RUNWAY WHICH THE AIRCRAFT CONTACTED.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/21/1989
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1830
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City RAMSEY
Event State MINNESOTA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 55303
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport GATEWAY NORTH
Event Location Nearest Airport ID Y25
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 340
Airport Elevation 875
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1850 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 150
Weather Observation Facility ID MIC
Elevation of weather observation facility 869
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 15
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 10000
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) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 130
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 368
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 21 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2146
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 38747
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:41PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2746K
NTSB Number MKC89LA111
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 LUSCOMBE
Aircraft Model 8F
Aircraft Series Identifier 8F
Aircraft Serial Number 5473
Certified Max Gross Weight 1400
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 15 1989 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 3
Airframe Hours 8014
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name HILLBERG, LELAND E.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 7650 163 RD LANE NW
Aircraft Owner City RAMSEY
Aircraft Owner State MN
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 55303
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 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 Y25
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1730
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 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 16
Runway Length 2500
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --