Amateur-built SH2F accident near Green Bay, Wisconsin, April 11, 1991
On April 11, 1991 at about 3:27 pm local time, a amateur-built SH2F, registered N1490, was substantially damaged in an accident near Green Bay, Wisconsin (Austin Straubel 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 IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO REFUEL THE AIRCRAFT PRIOR TO DEPARTURE. A FACTOR CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE UNPORTING OF THE FUEL PICK UP LINE IN FUEL TANK DURING ABRUPT OR NEGATIVE 'G' MANEUVERS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 11, 1991 · about 3:27 pm local time
- Place
- Green Bay, Wisconsin · Austin Straubel · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SH2F
- Registration
- N1490 · registry record · serial 610
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT WAS MANEUVERING IN ATTITUDES THAT IMPOSED NEGATIVE 'G' FORCES ON THE AIRFRAME WHEN ENGINE POWER WAS LOST. ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE ENGINE WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. AN EMERGENCY LANDING WAS INITIATED TO A PAVED ROAD. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A WIRE ON APPROACH AND SUBSEQUENTLY IMPACTED A DITCH. EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE FUEL PICKUP LINE WAS CAPABLE OF UNPORTING WITH LOW FUEL LEVEL DURING NEGATIVE 'G' MANEUVERS. TOTAL FUEL CAPACITY WAS 34.5 GALLONS. APPROXIMATELY 10 GALLONS OF FUEL WERE PRESENT WHEN THE ENGINE POWER FAILURE OCCURRED.
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: 549 hours in all; 350 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 510 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 341 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 19, 1990; 24 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming I0-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 7,699 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; scat at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 25°F (-4°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.
Other NTSB records under N1490 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.