Davis TRI-Q 200 accident near Joplin, Missouri, May 21, 1994
On May 21, 1994 at about 9:05 pm local time, a Davis TRI-Q 200, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N800Q, was destroyed in an accident near Joplin, Missouri (Joplin Regional airport). 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
LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS, AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT INTENTIONALLY OPERATING AN AIRPLANE WITH KNOWN DEFICIENCIES, HIS LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THE AIRPLANE, AND HIS OVERCONFIDENCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 21, 1994 · about 9:05 pm local time
- Place
- Joplin, Missouri · Joplin Regional
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Davis TRI-Q 200, amateur-built
- Registration
- N800Q · no longer on the register · serial 2114
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE NON-CERTIFICATED PILOT HAD JUST PURCHASED THE HOMEBUILT AIRPLANE IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE FLIGHT. THE AIRPLANE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED SINCE 1989, AND HAD A HISTORY OF ENGINE PROBLEMS. TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THE SALE, THE SELLER ADVISED THE PILOT NOT TO FLY THE AIRPLANE BUT TO TRAILER IT HOME. THE SELLER ALSO DID NOT FEEL THE PILOT WAS QUALIFIED TO FLY. DURING TAXI TO THE FUELING RAMP, THE ENGINE WAS OBSERVED QUITTING TWICE. DURING FUELING, THE PILOT DID NOT KNOW HOW TO LOCATE THE SECOND TANK. DURING TAKEOFF, THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED TO LOSE ALTITUDE, TURN BACK TOWARD THE FIELD, AND IMPACT THE GROUND. THE AIRPLANE WAS CONSUMED BY POST-CRASH FIRE.
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
- Flight time: 450 hours in all
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 21 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 21 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Destination: 07F Gladewater TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 6,503 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:05 pm from JLN
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 N800Q 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.