Amateur-built MRU accident near Pell City, Alabama, June 20, 1990
On June 20, 1990, a amateur-built MRU, registered N7ZS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pell City, Alabama (St. Clair CO airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 20, 1990
- Place
- Pell City, Alabama · St. Clair CO · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built MRU
- Registration
- N7ZS · registry record · serial DB-100
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
IT WAS REPORTED THAT THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS FLYING HIS FIRST SOLO FLIGHT IN THE EXPERIMENTAL AIRPLANE. WITNESSES WATCHED AS THE PILOT FLEW TOUCH AND GO APPROACHES IN A RIGHT TRAFFIC PATTERN. WHILE ON THE THIRD DOWNWIND, AS THE AIRPLANE APPROACHED THE POSITION FOR THE BASE LEG, IT ROLLED VIOLENTLY TO THE LEFT AND DESCENDED TO IMPACT. NO DISCREPANCIES WERE FOUND WITH THE ENGINE NOR THE FLIGHT CONTROLS.
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: 1,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,071 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 26, 1990; 10 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 2, 4,202 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 010° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 61°F (16°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.