N/A Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

South St Paul, Minnesota 55075
Saturday, June 29, 2002 14:53 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

After takeoff, the airplane experienced a gradual loss of engine power and was substantially damaged during the resulting forced landing. The climb rate decayed until the pilot was unable to maintain a positive rate of climb. The airplane impacted a roof top antenna and landed in a residential area approximately one mile south of the airport. Temperature and dew point at the departure airport were reported as 32 degrees Celsius and 19 degrees Celsius, respectively. The post-accident engine examination revealed black, sooty deposits on all spark plugs and a black, sooty residue in the exhaust system. No other anomolies were noted. The pilot reported checking carburetor heat on run-up, however he did not apply carburetor heat prior to takeoff. In addition, the pilot reported that carburetor heat was not applied in response to the engine power loss. Based on statements from the pilot, two to four minutes elapsed between the time the run-up was completed and the takeoff was initiated. Other pilots operating on the day of the accident reported experiencing problems with carburetor ice. These pilots noted that carburetor heat was necessary during takeoff and climb. Data published by Transport Canada indicated a probability of light carburetor icing in these conditions.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to utilize carburetor heat. Factors included ambient conditions for the formation of carburetor ice, and the unsuitable terrain for the forced landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/29/2002
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1453
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City South St Paul
Event State MINNESOTA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 55075
Event Date Year 2002
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 445000N
Event Location Longitude 0930200W
Event Location Airport N/A
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 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 180
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1458 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 360
Weather Observation Facility ID SGS
Elevation of weather observation facility 820
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 32
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 19
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 170
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 17
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.88
Density Altitude (feet) 3080
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 12965
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Jun 29 2002 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1850
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Apr 18 2003 4:28PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Minneapolis, MN

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N699S
NTSB Number CHI02LA180
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Aune
Aircraft Model Glastar GS-1
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 5446
Certified Max Gross Weight 2400
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 Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Conditional
Date of Last Inspection Mar 1 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 9
Airframe Hours 130
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name N699S, LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 7990 96th St. S
Aircraft Owner City Cottage Grove
Aircraft Owner State MN
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 55016
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name Michael L. Aune
Operator Same as Owner? No
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 SGS
Departure City South St. Paul
Departure State MN
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1450
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code FBL
Destination City Faribault
Destination State MN
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff - initial climb
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Jan 30 2003 9:41AM
User who most recently changed record SULP
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --