Amateur-built MINI-MAX accident near Neenah, Wisconsin, October 11, 1995
On October 11, 1995 at about 11:25 pm local time, a amateur-built MINI-MAX, registered N42BX, was substantially damaged in an accident near Neenah, Wisconsin. 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
Fuel starvation due to fuel filter blockage. Factors associated with the accident were the manufacturers design of the fuel filter and the builder/pilots decision to use an automotive type fuel filter.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 11, 1995 · about 11:25 pm local time
- Place
- Neenah, Wisconsin · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built MINI-MAX
- Registration
- N42BX · registry record · serial 177
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED HE WAS CRUISING AT 2000 FEET WHEN THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING AN OFF AIRPORT LANDING. AN INVESTIGATION FOUND A FUEL FILTER RETAINING NUT ON THE AUTOMOTIVE TYPE FUEL FILTER HAD ROTATED CAUSING THE FUEL INLET HOLES TO BECOME BLOCKED. THE AUTOMOTIVE TYPE FUEL FILTER WAS PURCHASED BY THE AIRCRAFT OWNER FROM A HOMEBUILT AIRCRAFT PART SUPPLIER.
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: 391 hours in all; 179 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 324 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 179 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 7, 1995; 23 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 620 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 503 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SUE Sturgeon Bay WI at 9:50 pm
- Destination: 79C WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 240° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:45 pm from ATW, 7 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.