Balkema/Boven KESTREL HAWK N601AS

Summary

On 31 October 1991 at about 20:50 local time, a Balkema/Boven KESTREL HAWK registered N601AS, operated by Anupinder Singh Guron, was involved in an accident near West Memphis, Arkansas, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

31 October 1991 at 20:50

Classification

Accident

Location

West Memphis, Arkansas, United States

Nearest airport

West Memphis (AWM)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Balkema/Boven KESTREL HAWK

Registration

N601AS

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Anupinder Singh Guron

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW92LA016

1 person was seriously injured.

THE PILOT ALLOWED THE AIRCRAFT TO ENTER AN INADVERTENT STALL DURING FLARE AT EXCESSIVE ALTITUDE WHILE EXECUTING THE FORCED LANDING. FACTORS WERE THE PILOT IN COMMAND AND UNAUTHORIZED PERSON PERFORMED CARBURETOR MAINTENANCE ADJUSTMENTS PRIOR TO FLIGHT, AND THE USE OF AN IMPROPER GRADE FUEL.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

DURING A DAYTIME EXTENDED DOWNWIND APPROACH AT 300 FEET AGL, THE PILOT ALLOWED THE AIRSPEED TO DROP BELOW 50 MPH. THE ENGINE RPM DECREASED BELOW 1500 RPM AND SUBSEQUENTLY THE ENGINE LOST ALL POWER. THE PILOT MADE A DESCENDING RIGHT TURN FOR THE FORCED LANDING INTO A FIELD. AT APPROXIMATELY 40 FEET AGL, THE PILOT FLARED THE AIRPLANE, BUT LOST CONTROL AND IMPACTED THE TERRAIN IN A VERTICAL DESCENT. NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION TO FLIGHT CONTROLS OR STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS WERE FOUND DURING THE INVESTIGATION. ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER'S LIMITATIONS, IMPROPER FUEL WAS IN THE AIRPLANE. THE MANUFACTURER'S FLIGHT MANUAL DID NOT ADDRESS NORMAL OR EMERGENCY PROCEDURES FOR THE AIRPLANE WHEN FLOAT EQUIPPED. THE OPERATOR WHO WAS INVOLVED IN THE MAINTENANCE OF THE AIRPLANE, REPORTED A HISTORY OF FUEL VAPORIZATION IN THE FUEL LINES.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.