NTSB CHI89DEM02 — 1989-06-06 · PLAINWELL, Michigan, United States

Current FAA registration · N1003H

Make / Model: AERONCA 15AC
Year of manufacture: 1948 · 41 years old at event
Engine: CONT MOTOR C145 SERIES (145 hp)
Seats / Engines: 4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date: 19551003
ADS-B equipped: Yes — Mode-S A0077D

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

N1003H Aeronca 15AC Minor

Probable cause & findings

THE PILOT'S DECISION TO FLY THE AIRPLANE WHICH HAD NOT BEEN PROPERLY MAINTAINED WHICH RESULTED IN THE FUEL SYSTEM BLOCKAGE.

Factual narrative

THE AIRPLANE WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED WHEN ITS ENGINE LOST POWER IMMEDIATELY AFTER TAKEOFF. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE GROUND WITH THE LEFT WING AND CARTWHEELED TO A STOP. THE PILOT REPORTED HE HAD BEEN PREPARING THE AIRPLANE FOR ITS ANNUAL INSPECTION AND DECIDED TO GO FLYING. AFTER FILLING ONE OF THE AIRPLANES PREVIOUSLY EMPTY FUEL TANKS WITH AUTO FUEL, HE RAN THE ENGINE AND DECIDED TO TAKEOFF. THE AIRPLANE DID NOT HAVE A PROPER STC FOR THE AUTO FUEL BEING USED. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1989_CHI89DEM02.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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