Amateur-built BABY-ACE accident near Griffin, Georgia, April 15, 1990
On April 15, 1990 at about 9:30 pm local time, a amateur-built BABY-ACE, registered N1034C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Griffin, Georgia (Beaverbrook airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
AN IMPROPER FUEL SYSTEM (INSTALLED BY THE HOME BUILDER), AND CONTINUED OPERATION OF THE AIRCRAFT WITH A KNOWN DEFICIENCY, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL STARVATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 15, 1990 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Griffin, Georgia · Beaverbrook · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built BABY-ACE
- Registration
- N1034C · no longer on the register · serial N1034C
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER TAKE OFF IN A CLIMB ATTITUDE, THE ENGINE OF THE HOMEBUILT AIRCRAFT LOST POWER. WHEN THE NOSE WAS LOWERED, IT RESTARTED, BUT WITH INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO CLEAR THE TREES. A WITNESS WHO HAD PREVIOUSLY FLOWN THE AIRPLANE STATED THE ENGINE HAD QUIT WITH HIM UNDER SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES WHEN THE FUEL TANK WAS ABOUT 1/4 FULL. THE ENGINE RAN WELL AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THE FAA INSPECTOR EXAMINED THE ENGINE AND NOTED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS MOUNTED DIRECTLY BEHIND AND LEVEL WITH THE ENGINE. WHEN THE FUEL WAS ABOUT 1/4 FULL, A HIGH NOSE ATTITUDE WOULD RESULT IN POOLING OF THE FUEL AT THE REAR OF THE FUEL TANK. SUBSEQUENTLY, THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT PRESSURE IN THE GRAVITY FED SYSTEM TO SUSTAIN ENGINE OPERATION.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,385 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 4,036 as pilot in command; 246 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,719 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 20, 1989; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 873 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-65-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 4GA6 Griffin GA at 10:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 2,100 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.