Amateur-built GLASSAIRE/SH-2 accident near Shenandoah, Iowa, July 27, 1990
On July 27, 1990 at about 11:15 pm local time, a amateur-built GLASSAIRE/SH-2, registered N41FJ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Shenandoah, Iowa (Shenandoah 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
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING THE TAKEOFF GROUND RUN. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT IS THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE IN THE TYPE OF AIRCRAFT INVOLVED IN THE ACCIDENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 27, 1990 · about 11:15 pm local time
- Place
- Shenandoah, Iowa · Shenandoah · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built GLASSAIRE/SH-2 GLASSAIRE/
- Registration
- N41FJ · no longer on the register · serial 269
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OF THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE STATED THAT HE LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL JUST AFTER THE TAIL STARTED TO LIFT OFF DURING A TAKEOFF GROUND RUN. THE AIRPLANE LEFT THE RUNWAY, ROLLED INTO A DITCH, AND NOSED OVER. THE PILOT HAS A TOTAL OF TWENTY-TWO HOURS OF EXPERIENCE IN TAIL WHEEL AIRPLANES. SIXTEEN OF THOSE HOURS WERE IN THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE.
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: 350 hours in all; 22 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 45 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 16 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 20, 1990; 16 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO 360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SDA Shenandoah IA at 11:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22R, 4,100 ft by 70 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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.