Amateur-built ACEY DEUCY P70 accident near Ava, Missouri, October 30, 1998
On October 30, 1998 at about 5:30 pm local time, a amateur-built ACEY DEUCY P70, registered N597HJ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ava, Missouri (Bill Martin Memorial 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's attempted operation of the airplane with known deficiencies, and his not obtaining control of the airplane in flight. A factor was asymmetrical ailerons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 30, 1998 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Ava, Missouri · Bill Martin Memorial · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built ACEY DEUCY P70 ACEY DEUCY
- Registration
- N597HJ · no longer on the register · serial AD-215
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot purchased the amateur built airplane already constructed. On his first flight he reported a lack of aileron control at slow speed. He attempted to obtain the services of another pilot to fly the airplane and evaluate it. The other pilot made a high speed taxi test and then refused to fly the airplane. The owner/pilot then attempted a flight, lost control on liftoff and impacted the terrain. An inspection of the airplane after the accident revealed asymmetric deflection of the ailerons. The right aileron deflected 6' in either direction, while the left aileron deflected 3' in each direction.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 18,894 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 18,762 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 205 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 8, 1998; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290-G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AOV at 5:30 pm
- Destination: NONE Gainsville MO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 3,634 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: not reported
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:54 pm from SGF, 40 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.
Other NTSB records under N597HJ 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.