Beech A23A accident near St Paul, Minnesota, August 30, 1990
On August 30, 1990 at about 3:58 pm local time, a Beech A23A, registered N8871M, was substantially damaged in an accident near St Paul, Minnesota. 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
IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION, DUE TO AN INADEQUATE SUPPLY OF FUEL, AND FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL/SPIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 30, 1990 · about 3:58 pm local time
- Place
- St Paul, Minnesota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A23A · all A23As on the register
- Registration
- N8871M · no longer on the register · serial M-614
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ABOUT 1.5 HRS AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PLT RPRTD A LOSS OF ENG POWER. WHEN ASKED ABOUT HER POSITION, THE PLT RPRTD THAT SHE WAS 'OVER THE RIVER.' A WITNESS SAW THE ACFT AT AN ESTIMATED 500 TO 800 FT AGL. HE SAID THE ACFT'S NOSE ROSE TO A HIGH ANGLE, THEN THE RIGHT WING DROPPED & THE ACFT WENT INTO A SPIN & DOVE INTO THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL FAILURE WAS FOUND. ON THE PREVIOUS FLT, THE ACFT HAD BEEN FLOWN ABOUT 1.4 HRS, USING FUEL FROM THE RIGHT FUEL TANK. THERE WAS NO RECORD OF THE ACFT HAVING BEEN REFUELED AFTER THAT FLT. DURING A POST-ACDNT EXAM OF THE ACFT, THE FUEL BOOST PUMP WAS FOUND IN THE 'ON' POSITION, BOTH FUEL GAGES WERE INDICATING EMPTY & THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS FND POSITIONED TO THE RIGHT TANK.
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: 70 hours in all; 6 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 23 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,454 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 1990; 67 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-346-A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Black Sheep Flying Club
The flight
- Departed from: STP St Paul MN at 2:25 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 64°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.