Event CHI89DEM02

1989-06-06 PLAINWELL, Michigan, United States Airport · 61D Minor 1 aircraft Status: Completed

Registry · N1003H

FAA Aircraft Registry record.

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

Registrant of record

LIGHT WINDS AVIATION LLC

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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