NTSB CAROL · Event
Event MKC89FA194
Aircraft involved
Probable cause & findings
ENGINE PARTIAL POWER LOSS DUE TO WATER IN THE AIRCRAFT FUEL SYSTEM, AND AN INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT.
Factual narrative
AFTER EXPERIENCING A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DURING CLIMB OUT, THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO RETURN TO THE RUNWAY AT THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT. HOWEVER, HE DID NOT HAVE ADEQUATE ALTITUDE AND THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED SHORT. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED WATER IN THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE, FUEL MANIFOLD, FUEL PUMP AND ONE HEADER TANK. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT THE AIRCRAFT WAS SERVICED 2-3 WEEKS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. AN ANNUAL INSPECTION WAS COMPLETED ON 9-2-89. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12
Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file
NTSB_1989_MKC89FA194.txt.
Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb.
Full investigation docket on
data.ntsb.gov ↗.
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