Aeronca 15AC accident near Plainwell, Michigan, June 6, 1989
On June 6, 1989 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Aeronca 15AC, registered N1003H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Plainwell, Michigan (Otsego Plainwell airport). 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 DECISION TO FLY THE AIRPLANE WHICH HAD NOT BEEN PROPERLY MAINTAINED WHICH RESULTED IN THE FUEL SYSTEM BLOCKAGE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 6, 1989 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Plainwell, Michigan · Otsego Plainwell · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 15AC · all 15ACs on the register
- Registration
- N1003H · registry record · serial 15AC-5
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED WHEN ITS ENGINE LOST POWER IMMEDIATELY AFTER TAKEOFF. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE GROUND WITH THE LEFT WING AND CARTWHEELED TO A STOP. THE PILOT REPORTED HE HAD BEEN PREPARING THE AIRPLANE FOR ITS ANNUAL INSPECTION AND DECIDED TO GO FLYING. AFTER FILLING ONE OF THE AIRPLANES PREVIOUSLY EMPTY FUEL TANKS WITH AUTO FUEL, HE RAN THE ENGINE AND DECIDED TO TAKEOFF. THE AIRPLANE DID NOT HAVE A PROPER STC FOR THE AUTO FUEL BEING USED.
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: 830 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 830 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,528 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 16, 1987; 35 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-145-2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,650 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; not recorded at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 57°F (14°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.