Amateur-built QUICKIE accident near Altoona, Alabama, April 13, 1990
On April 13, 1990 at about 10:30 pm local time, a amateur-built QUICKIE, registered N36RH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Altoona, Alabama. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT AND A BLOCKED FUEL VENT, 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 13, 1990 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Altoona, Alabama · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built QUICKIE
- Registration
- N36RH · registry record · serial 75-RHI
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING FLIGHT, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH TREES WHEN THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO STOP IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA THAT WAS SELECTED. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT FUEL WAS REMAINING, BUT THE VENT PORT WAS CLOGGED BY MUD FROM AN INSECT WEST.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 73 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 55 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 480 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Onan B48M-GA018 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GAD Gadsden AL
- Destination: DCU Decatur AL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.