Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

La Salle, Colorado 80645
Tuesady, June 6, 1989 9:45 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PRIVATE PLT WAS FLYING HIS ANTIQUE AIRPLANE ON A LOCAL FLIGHT TO CHECK THE COMPASS. THIS PLANE HAD BEEN UNDER RESTORATION FOR AN EXTENDED TIME PRIOR TO THIS FLIGHT.DURING FLIGHT, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND THE PLT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN AN ALFALFA FIELD. AFTER ROLLING 200 FT IN 18 INCH HIGH ALFALFA, THE PLANE NOSED OVER. A POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION REVEALED EVIDENCE THAT THE FUEL TANK VENT WAS CLOGGED BY AN INSECT NEST (DIRT), WHICH RESTRICTED THE FLOW OF FUEL. AFTER THE VENT WAS CLEANED, THE ENGINE RAN NORMALLY.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

FOREIGN MATERIAL (INSECT NEST) BLOCKING THE FUEL SYSTEM VENT, WHICH RESULTED IN A RESTRICTION OF FUEL FLOW AND FUEL STARVATION. A RELATED FACTOR WAS THE ALFALFA CROP IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/6/1989
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 945
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City LA SALLE
Event State COLORADO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 80645
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 6
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 Pilot
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 3000
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) 16
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
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 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) 1105
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 6 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1015
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 39381
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:45PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N48749
NTSB Number DEN89LA134
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 RYAN
Aircraft Model ST-3KR
Aircraft Series Identifier ST-3KR
Aircraft Serial Number 1402
Certified Max Gross Weight 1860
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 8 1989 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 2
Airframe Hours 3514
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name HAROLD F. SCHMIDT
Aircraft Owner Street Address 4106 AA ST.
Aircraft Owner City GREELEY
Aircraft Owner State CO
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 80631
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 No
Departure Airport Code GXY
Departure City GREELEY
Departure State CO
Departure Country
Departure Time 915
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code GXY
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 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --