Temco D-16A accident near Eau Claire, Michigan, July 13, 1991
On July 13, 1991, a Temco D-16A, registered N88T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Eau Claire, Michigan. 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 IMPROPER REPLACEMENT OF THE FUEL SELECTOR LEVER WHICH RESULTED IN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL STARATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 13, 1991
- Place
- Eau Claire, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Temco D-16A · all D-16As on the register
- Registration
- N88T · no longer on the register · serial TTN-58
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE OWNER/OPERATOR OF THE AIRPLANE HAD REPLACED THE INTERIOR PRIOR TO THIS FLIGHT. DURING THE REPLACEMENT OF THE CARPET IT WAS NECESSARY TO REMOVE AND REPLACE THE FUEL SELECTOR LEVERS. DURING THE FIRST TAKEOFF AFTER THE MAINTENANCE, THE LEFT ENGINE LOST POWER. THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED INTO TREES AND THE TERRAIN. SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE LEFT FUEL SELECTOR LEVER WAS NOT PROPERLY REPLACED AND THE TANK TO WHICH IT WAS SELECTED DID NOT CONTAIN SUFFICIENT FUEL TO COMPLETE THE PROPOSED FLIGHT.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,678 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-340-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 290° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,000 ft; scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 11:50 pm from SBN, 15 miles away
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.